Epress.am News from Armenia
A rally organized by local daily Haykakan Jamanak (“Armenian Times”) in defense of the paper’s imprisoned chief editor, Nikol Pashinyan, took place at 3 pm today near Saryan’s statue in central Yerevan.
The following statement was presented to members of the press who were present at today’s demonstration:
“In recent days, the press regularly alerts [us] to the violence, and psychological and physical pressure that Nikol Pashinyan is subject to, to which state representatives respond either with inconclusive refutations or irony.
“We are furious from this policy consistently carried out against our colleague and we believe that his safety is not secured at Kosh penitentiary.
“We demand the government ensure the inviolability and safety of the Haykakan Jamanak daily chief editor’s life. We also demand to punish and prevent all those activities undertaken by individuals, which in this or that way are directed against Pashinyan’s security. We demand that Nikol Pashinyan be released.”
Representatives from 12 news agencies in Armenia signed below the above statement, including A1+, Armenia Today, Hetq weekly and Hetq.am, Hraparak daily, ALM TV, Jamanak (“Times”) daily, Gala TV, News.am, 1in.am, Epress.am, Lragir.am, and Committee to Protect Freedom of Speech NGO.