Epress.am News from Armenia
GALA TV issued a statement yesterday criticizing Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, who, they say, obstructed the work of their journalist on duty. The statement reads:
“During the opening ceremony of the new cultural center in the city of Artik in Shirak marz, members of the group accompanying RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan today obstructed the work of the GALA TV film crew, broke their microphone and tripod, causing moral and material damage.
“First, from the beginning, a negative attitude was directed toward the GALA TV crew; the movement of the camera operator and journalist were restricted. After the incident, our journalist verbally apologized to the prime minister’s press spokesperson, saying that what took place was an accident. However, a simple analysis of the incident proves that it was directly intended. And the prime minister, who, from platforms and TV broadcasts, proclaims, values and places importance on democracy and free speech, in turn, refused to answer our journalist’s question on building construction in Gyumri — a response for which thousands of homeless Gyumri residents are waiting.
“GALA TV states that it condemns any attempt at disrespectful treatment toward journalists’ work and is ready to prevent any such move, regardless of the official position, physical and mental capacity of the person opposite.”