June 23 reminded March 1 (video)
President of the Committee in Defense of Freedom of Speech Ashot Melikyan thinks that the volumes of physical violence against journalists on June 23 weren’t inferior to the persecutions on March 1, 2008. Here he sees especially one dangerous phenomenon. “The state authorities, in particular power and law enforcement authorities, which must ensure the security of journalists’ activities, they become the source of danger,” notes Mr. Melikyan. Is it possible to exclude the violence against journalists in such tense situations even in the presence of distinguishing badges? The expert answers: “Policemen, on seeing that they dealt with a journalist, or when the journalist introduced himself from a certain media or showed his badge, he [journalist] wasn’t able to be defended.” Specialist in the International Law Ara Ghazaryan claims that journalists must be consistent in restoring the violated rights. He thinks that there are relevant legal mechanisms. “If they act jointly or apply to the courts and at the same time to the international organizations, also submit applications to the committee on human rights, after some time it will give its results, at least it may have a cooling effect on the actions of the police.” The expert notes that during the recent years the cases, when the police used prohibited measures, have been decreasing, but June 23 showed another thing. Ara Ghazaryan notes: “The method how the police used force is not only excessive, but it also lead hidden punitive policy, it means the police have a systematic problem.” To note, according to the data of Committee in Defense of Freedom of Speech, 19 cases of physical violence against journalists have been recorded in 6 months. This figure is twice as high as the cases of violence recorded in 2014.
