Reporter Alleges Use of Force by PM Pashinyan's Security Personnel

A disturbing incident occurred on the opening day of the Starmus international festival. Ruslan Martirosyan, a correspondent for Russia's largest scientific media outlet Naked Science, reported that on September 5, the security personnel of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan used physical force against him and expelled him from the territory of the Sports and Concert Complex. The incident was reported by Naked Science.

Sputnik Armenia contacted Ruslan to learn more about what happened. He stated that the security personnel were rude from the first moments, not allowing him to enter and claiming that media representatives could only enter after 4 PM, not before.

"I showed my badge and said that it had been communicated outside that media representatives could enter before 4 PM. They responded very rudely, saying 'no', and I continued, saying that they were saying before 4 PM, and you say only after 4 PM, which one is correct? Again, the answer was rude: 'We are telling you after 4 PM, go away from here and come back after 4 PM.' I said, 'Fine, I was already in shock,'" Ruslan recounted.

After this, he tried to enter the complex through another entrance, where he was allowed in without issues. He noted that it was evident from the uniforms of the personnel that they were festival security. Once inside, he approached the security staff who had just refused him entry.

"Honestly, I approached with good intentions, saying, 'But you said it was not allowed to enter until 4 PM, so how did I manage to enter?' I said, 'Excuse me, but why is the entry for such a major festival organized so poorly, and why do you speak so poorly to media representatives?' It saddened me to say this, as it wasn't my first time participating in a big festival; I don't want reporters to go and tell how they were treated in Armenia," Ruslan emphasized.

He explained that on one hand, the personnel were annoyed that he had managed to enter before 4 PM; on the other hand, they did not accept his observation. "If you see that video, they immediately attacked me, saying, 'Who are you to tell us we are poorly organized, come here!' If there had been footage, you would have seen what a disgrace it was. A few more people approached, one larger person came and hit my stomach with four fingers, saying, 'Come here.'"

Ruslan stated that after that, they tried to forcibly take him into a room. At that moment, he felt real danger and started shouting loudly, hoping that people would notice. "After that, I was pushed into a corner; one of the personnel approached me, and I said, 'This is not the Armenia we fought for.' I pointed out that I would definitely make this incident public and then tried to enter the hall. One person began yelling at me, 'Come here, you’re not entering, go out.' Pulling me by my shirt and pushing me, they expelled me outside."

Thus, although Ruslan had pre-registered for the festival, he could not participate or cover the event. When asked why he was sure that it was the Prime Minister's security personnel who exhibited such behavior towards him, he stated that it was clear from their attire. "Moreover, according to protocol, security personnel were supposed to be there, as the Prime Minister was to attend the festival's opening," Ruslan said.

That evening, the head of the Public Relations and Information Center, Gor Tsarukyan, contacted him to understand what had happened. Sputnik Armenia also reached out to the center. Gor Tsarukyan reported that immediately upon being informed of the incident, he spoke not only with the correspondent but also with the complex's security personnel. He stated, "The accounts differ slightly; according to the personnel, no physical force was applied against the journalist."

"Since there is no video footage, I would hesitate to express an opinion," Tsarukyan noted. When asked whether the individuals involved in the incident were security personnel or part of the Prime Minister's team, Tsarukyan said he didn't know, as he was not present at the incident, and as far as he was aware, there was no video. He added that his involvement was due to the fact that the center is included in the working group for organizing the festival, especially since the incident involved the media.

It is noteworthy that representatives from the festival also contacted Ruslan, inviting him again. He stated that he had no issues or demands regarding the festival and would certainly attend today to cover the event if possible.