31/10/2014 20:20
Melikyan: 8 cases of pressure on reporters recorded in nine months
8 cases when pressure was put on reporters and mass media outlets were recorded in the first three quarters of 2014, including 6 lawsuits about insult and libel as well as demands to reveal the source of information, Chairman of Committee for the Protection of Freedom of Speech Ashot Melikyan said at a meeting with reporters today.
According to him, pressure of a different kind was also recorded when employees of the National Security Service tried to recruit a correspondent of Araratnews.am, with threats being made against that person later.
In the words of Melikyan, the persistence that law enforcement bodies and the judicial system show when demanding to reveal the source of information raises concern.
“The number of physical violence cases grew by 1 case compared to 3rd quarter of 2013, while the number of cases when pressure was put on mass media outlets and their employees declined by 7. Violations of the right to receive and disseminate information made 8 in 2013 and 11 in 2014,” Ashot Melikyan said.