Incident Reported Targeting Yerkir.am Journalist: Statement from the Journalists' Union

The Journalists' Union of Armenia has issued a statement revealing that certain groups have targeted a journalist from Yerkir.am. The statement reads:

“On June 7, the official start date of the early parliamentary elections campaign, another incident of civil groups targeting journalists carrying out their professional duties was recorded; this time, the target was a journalist from Yerkir.am. Previously, journalists Ani Gevorgyan and Syuzanna Badoyan from Tert.am and Yerevan.today were targeted in the Ararat region.”

The increasing frequency of such incidents in recent weeks raises reasonable suspicions that these actions are not spontaneous expressions of citizens but rather planned and directed operations. Given that most of these incidents occur against representatives of non-governmental media outlets, there is also a reasonable suspicion that the instigator may be the government or its connected circles, which may be attempting to serve the political authority in this manner.

The scale and depth of the attacks against journalists are also evidenced by the fact that both the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia and the Police have urged political forces to refrain from targeting journalists during the campaign.

The Journalists' Union of Armenia condemns the latest incident obstructing a journalist's professional work and this increasingly common phenomenon, joining the calls of the Human Rights Defender and the Police. All political forces, but especially the political force representing the government, must prevent the targeting and attacks on journalists covering their pre-election meetings by their supporters.

Particularly during these times when society is in unacceptably polarized conditions, with dividing lines sharper than ever between different strata of the community, the work of journalists takes on amplified importance and significance. The Journalists' Union of Armenia urges all political forces participating in the election campaign to show responsible attitudes towards the safety of journalists covering their events; meanwhile, journalists are encouraged to remain faithful to their professional duties and adhere to the principles of impartiality, equality, and multi-dimensionality.”