Civilnet
A group of Armenian NGOs issued a statement condemning the disrespectful behavior of certain parliamentarians towards journalists. In particular, the statement deems parliamentarian Mher Sedrakyan’s behavior as criminal and demands that the Prosecutor General’s office take adequate measures.
Some of the organizations that have signed under the statement include the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, Yerevan Press Club, Media Initiatives Center (former Internews), Asparez Journalist’s Club, Diverse Information Institute-Armenia, Public Journalism Club, Journalists for the Future and Goris Press Club.
The statement specifically states:
“Last week, during the May 19-23 National Assembly four-day session, certain parliamentarians stood out with their aggressive and brazen behavior towards reporters. On May 19, a reporter from www.azatutyun.am asked parliamentarian Shusan Petrosyan for her opinion on the shooting that had taken place a few days earlier near Vernissage. Mrs. Petrosyan responded by saying, ‘You are all immoral.’ On May 21, member of the Prosperous Armenia faction Melik Manukyan was extremely rude and tried to abuse a journalist from the newspaper Hraparak when the latter asked him what he thought about the Government’s new program. The following day on May 22, member of the Republican Party faction Mher Sedrakyan used curse words to a journalist from www.tert.am who was attempting to ask him a question. On that same day, parliamentarian Arayik Grigoryan, who was intoxicated, was obscenely rude to a female reporter from www.news.am. You can find a video of the latter incident on www.armlur.am.
“Of these four parliamentarians only Shushan Petrosyan attempted to explain herself through other media outlets, however she was not convincing. Her willingness to apologize to the reporter from www.azatutyun.am was not adequate to the expressions she used towards reporters. As for the others, none have apologized for their behavior. It’s noteworthy that Mher Sedrakyan acted in a similar manner last year with another reporter from A1Plus.
“We condemn the aggressive and obscene behavior of the abovementioned parliamentarians. We, the undersigned, demand:
- The Republican Party and Prosperous Armenia factions discuss these incidents and publicize their assessments,
- The Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia consider the part in this statement about Mher Sedrakyan as a criminal report if the latter does not apologize to tert.am’s reporter.
“We call on all reporters who have been affected by these incidents and have been treated with disrespect to appeal to the National Assembly’s Ethics Committee to discuss the behavior of the these parliamentarians.
“Meanwhile, we urge the media community to show professional solidarity and moral support to their colleagues and not tolerate obscene behavior from parliamentarians.”
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