Editors of Opposition Papers Once Again Ask Colleagues for Solidarity in Libel Suits

Chief editor of the pro-opposition daily Zhamanak (“Times”) Arman Babajanyan is sure that the law that decriminalized libel (after which lawsuits against newspapers increased exponentially) was ordered by the president’s office.

“And the oligarchs were told to settle accounts with those papers that cannot be controlled,” he told journalists in the Armenian capital today.

Babajanyan reminded the press that the three lawsuits against Zhamanak are currently in the RA Court of Appeals.

“I have to note that months ago at a press conference I proposed that there be unity among newspapers. Let us opposition newspapers at least gather and publish the article that was the subject of the suit. There was no response to this suggestion of mine,” he said.

Also participating in today’s press conference, Hraparak chief editor Armine Ohanyan described how every time the postal worker knocks on their door she thinks that they might be issued with a new lawsuit.

“Such a murky situation has been created in our country, that they can sue us for an article republished from elsewhere, for a translated article. I myself had suggested beginning a series of protests. In particular, if we receive any new accusations, we publish the plaintiff’s photo framed in black on the front page. Today Hraparak daily has three lawsuits [against it] and threats of three new suits. Only oligarchs sue — the law was adopted to protest the rights of oligarchs and officials more. It’s not possible to call this anything other than a process directed against free press,” she said.

Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression President Ashot Melikyan also spoke on the matter of the absence of solidarity among journalists.

“The journalistic community is divided into different groups, which is an obstacle. At least those news outlets that are on the same side of the field have to come together and help one another — editors have to get together and decide what steps to take. The Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression will publish its third quarter report in a week. Let me note that the number of court cases weren’t fewer in the third quarter than in the second quarter. When the law was changing and there were discussions in parliament, we were often asked are you opposed to those who insult or publish libelous material being held accountable?

“Naturally, we said but not every criticism has to be considered an insult [or defamation]. Too bad that at the time they didn’t consider all of our proposals, while those that they did consider are not applied. Unfortunately, I see that if an oligarch insults a journalist that is not considered an insult, but if a news outlets republishes any article it is already an opportunity for a lawsuit,” he said.