Armenian ombudsman calls violence against journalists unacceptable
21.07.2016,
12:38
Violence against journalists is unacceptable, the Armenian ombudsman says in his statement released Thursday morning after clashes broke between the police and protesters gathered around the seized police building Wednesday nigh.
YEREVAN, July 21. /ARKA/. Violence against journalists is unacceptable, the Armenian ombudsman says in his statement released Thursday morning after clashes broke between the police and protesters gathered around the seized police building Wednesday nigh.
In his statement, the ombudsman strictly denounces the incident not only as violence, but also as obstacle to journalists’ professional activity.
He says that obstruction of journalists’ professional activity is a criminal offence, regardless of whether offenders are representatives of government agencies or ordinary citizens.
“In this connection, we intend to send all the pieces of evidence we possess to the prosecuting agencies,” the ombudsman says.
He called on everybody who has unpublished videos or information about use of violence against journalists to submit them to him for taking necessary steps.
An armed group stormed a police station in Armenia's capital Yerevan on Sunday and took some officers hostage, demanding the release of Zhirayr Sefilian, the jailed opposition leader of Founding Parliament movement, and the resign of the president.
According to the police, one police officer had been killed and five others and one attacker wounded in the assault.
Later, some hostages were released as a result of intense negotiations.
Two top police officials, deputy police chief Vardan Egiazaryan and Yerevan deputy police chief Valeri Osipyan, are among four officers who remain captured.
Hundreds of people gathered around the building to bar the law enforcement units from storming the building and to prevent а bloody outcome.
This night the police units cleaned up the territory of protesters and detained dozens of people.
As many as 51 people injured in the clashes, including 28 policemen, received medical services this night. --0----
In his statement, the ombudsman strictly denounces the incident not only as violence, but also as obstacle to journalists’ professional activity.
He says that obstruction of journalists’ professional activity is a criminal offence, regardless of whether offenders are representatives of government agencies or ordinary citizens.
“In this connection, we intend to send all the pieces of evidence we possess to the prosecuting agencies,” the ombudsman says.
He called on everybody who has unpublished videos or information about use of violence against journalists to submit them to him for taking necessary steps.
An armed group stormed a police station in Armenia's capital Yerevan on Sunday and took some officers hostage, demanding the release of Zhirayr Sefilian, the jailed opposition leader of Founding Parliament movement, and the resign of the president.
According to the police, one police officer had been killed and five others and one attacker wounded in the assault.
Later, some hostages were released as a result of intense negotiations.
Two top police officials, deputy police chief Vardan Egiazaryan and Yerevan deputy police chief Valeri Osipyan, are among four officers who remain captured.
Hundreds of people gathered around the building to bar the law enforcement units from storming the building and to prevent а bloody outcome.
This night the police units cleaned up the territory of protesters and detained dozens of people.
As many as 51 people injured in the clashes, including 28 policemen, received medical services this night. --0----
