Investigation Launched into Incident of Journalists Being Removed from National Assembly Lounge

The newspaper "Zhoghovourd" reports: On June 12, during the Government’s question-and-answer session in the National Assembly, an investigation was initiated based on Article 237, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, regarding the violent removal of journalists from the lounge in the National Assembly.

It is noted that Daniel Ioannisyan, coordinator of the NGO "Informed Citizens" submitted a report concerning a video published on June 12, 2024, titled "MPs Tugging at Each Other During Break, Tensions Still High," which was supposedly filmed by journalists from the lounge designated for listening to the session and, if desired, for filming. Starting from the 4th minute and 45th second of the video, it can be heard how journalists are being expelled from the lounge, while the parliamentary session was taking place in an open format, meaning it could be recorded, filmed, photographed, and broadcast live.

An unidentified individual (most likely one of the National Assembly’s security staff) forced journalists to leave the lounge, thus obstructing their professional activity. Journalists from "Zhoghovourd" were also present in the lounge at that moment and noted that the special forces personnel received that order personally from David Arakelyan, the head of the National Assembly Staff, who closely monitored how the journalists were forcibly removed.

We hope that the investigative agencies will not turn a blind eye to the alleged lawlessness of the National Assembly staff, and Arakelyan will be punished to the fullest extent of the law for obstructing the professional activities of journalists.