Epress.am News from Armenia
The Committee to Protect Journalists yesterday published its 2010 annual report, in which the international agency shone the spotlight on attacks on the press and journalists in Armenia, reports local daily Aravot (“Morning”).
In 2010, the report notes, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan had to quell lingering domestic discontent over electoral fraud and economic woes. A special parliamentary election in Yerevan in Jan. 2010 was marred by reports of ballot-stuffing and harassment of opposition supporters, according to international press reports, a reminder of the irregularities that international observers documented during the 2008 presidential vote. The administration sough to control the news narrative by suppressing public protests, imprisoning opposition activists, and adopting restrictive regulation.
The most drastic step occurred in June when parliament passed and the president signed into law amendments to the Law on Television and Radio that tightened control of the country’s influential broadcast media, according to local and international press reports. The government tried to deflect attention from the restrictive amendments by embedding them into a package of measures meant to move radio and television stations from analog to digital signals. Sargsyan ignored domestic and international protests over the restrictions, which are seen as benefiting his Republican Party as it approaches the 2012 parliamentary elections.
Analysts said the changes would provide the government legal cover to keep the popular news outlet A1+ off the air. The government has essentially ignored a June 2008 ruling by the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights that said authorities improperly revoked the A1+ license without adequate explanation. A1+ continues to operate as an online outlet.
Furthermore, the report adds, the digitization of TV was seen by some as a means to silence Gyumri-based GALA TV, the one domestic station that continued to broadcast criticism of the government.
The report also address attacks on journalists in 2010, particularly highlighting the case of Gagik Shamshyan, who was assaulted by a police officer on Feb. 24; and the case of Ani Gevorgyan, Syuzanna Poghosyan and Lilit Tadevosyan, who were arrested on May 31 while covering a gathering of opposition activists.