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BONN, 23 JUNE, ARMENPRESS: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today said journalists’ safety must be ensured at all times, following recent incidents against journalists covering public protest in Yerevan, Armenia. As Armenpress reports, citing the OSCE press release, Mijatović said in particular. “Media has the right to cover public events and journalists must be able to report in a free and safe manner, without fear of harassment and intimidation”.
On 23 June journalists from various media outlets, were reportedly mistreated, verbally assaulted and detained by police while covering a public demonstration in Yerevan. Some journalists reported their equipment damaged or seized. “I call on the authorities to promptly investigate these incidents and take steps to ensure restraint on the part of law enforcement representatives toward members of the media,” Mijatović said. Mijatović is in Bonn participating in the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum. As the Police of the Republic of Armenia, stated today, it suggested the citizens who organized illegal march against increasingelectricity priceleaving the protest sight. This was done through long negotiations. It was also announced for a few times that the President of the Republic of Armenia is eager to listen to the protesters’ demands. However,the demonstrators turned down this offer. As it is mentioned in the statement provided to Armenpress by the Public Relations and Information Department of the Police of the Republic of Armenia, the organizers of the march also turned down the admonishments of the police. Guided by the laws of the Republic of Armenia, the police applied to the organizers of the protest with the demand to stop the illegal march but the organizers didn’t obey. The Police noted, that some journalists neglected police officers’ legitimate requirements in this case, and this has led to undesirable consequences.