'Good old days' for Armenia’s Public TV main information programme

After some minor positive temporary improvements under the European pressures, Armenian Public TV’s main Haylur information programme returned back to its 'good old' broadcasting policy - effectively, no or almost no opposition related or alternative news on the air. Radio Liberty remains the main source of independent and opposition related information for Armenians. Perhaps, the authorities think that Europe is busy with more important things right now and will not pay attention to Armenia’s fulfilling its obligations. Soon we will get the answers. But what I care most is Armenian authorities’ obligations towards its own citizens, and restoration of freedoms and rights not just because of international obligations, but because that’s the only way forward for Armenia.

Assaults on journalists continue in Armenia

Only a week ago Lusine Barseghian of the [opposition] “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily was briefly hospitalized after being assaulted by unknown men as she left her parents’ apartment block in Yerevan in the morning:

The journalist, whose newspaper boasts the highest circulation in the country, linked the attack to a recent series of articles by her that scrutinized the allegedly illicit activities of influential individuals close to the government. Those included the chief of President Serzh Sarkisian’s staff, Hovik Abrahamian, tycoon Samvel Aleksanian and the controversial mayor of Yerevan’s Erebuni district, Mher Sedrakian. All three men have repeatedly been branded as crime figures by “Haykakan Zhamanak” and opposition politicians.

No news that anyone was charged for this attack.

And here we are... It was emerged today that Hrach Melkumian, current Yerevan Bureau chief of Radio Liberty was assaulted last night in central Yerevan. Physical assault was accompanied by verbal attacks towards Radio Liberty.

New (old) kind of 'freedom' is establishing itself in Armenia - freedom from punishment for assaulting journalists. Impunity rules!

Radio Liberty resumes broadcasts in Armenia

Good news from Yerevan - I just learned that after two weeks of imposed ban, Radio Liberty resumed broadcasts via its normal FM frequency in Yerevan. For the first time during the 'state of emergency', Armenians were able to listen to independent news (main evening programme of Radio Liberty) via normal routes.

Independent and pro-opposition media representatives in Armenia protest censorship

STATEMENT

On March 2, following the day of announcing a state of emergency in Yerevan, the employees of National Security Service (NSS) visited editorial offices of newspapers and presented a short letter, without a signature and a seal, warning that the activities of newspapers would be suspended if the newspaper publications contained information that was different from the official information. On the same night, the materials of newspapers taken to the printing house were checked in detail by NSS employees, and there was a verbal instruction to prohibit the printing.

Taking into consideration that the information called official is at least one-sided and does not reflect the whole picture, being continuously broadcast by about a dozen TV channels, certain newspapers simply decided not to get published, and the others turned up in a forced idle time.

This becomes a basis for us to announce that the RA authorities have just prohibited the activities of the media that are undesirable for them, especially when the demand to publish exclusively official information has not in the least concerned “their own” media that are being published in the conditions of state of emergency.

To make the information terror complete, Internet web sites have also been blocked. Moreover, advertising is being broadcast instead of the CNN and Euronews newscasts covering the events in Armenia. The broadcasting of Liberty radio station was totally suspended.

We announce that all these things not only do not contribute to toning down the tension existing in the public but also deepen the atmosphere of hatred and hostility. The overwhelming majority of the media spreading information that is called official and, especially, the press speakers with their aggression just contribute to igniting unhealthy moods and deepening the mistrust in the government.

In the created situation, our constitutional right to spread and receive information has been violated; the universally-acknowledged principles of freedom of speech and the press freedom have been infringed; the media sustain material losses; censorship is being implemented in Armenia, and our country has turned up in a complete informational blockade.

A1+ chairman
Aravot daily newspaper editor-in-chief
Yerevan Press Club president
Zhamanak Yerevan daily newspaper editor-in-chief
Internews managing director
Haykakan Zhamanak daily newspaper deputy editor-in-chief
Hayk daily newspaper editor-in-chief
Lragir web site editor-in-chief
168 Zham newspaper editor-in-chief
Hetk online newspaper editor-in-chief
Hraparak daily newspaper editor-in-chief
Chorrord Ishkhanutyun newspaper editor-in-chief
Taregir newspaper editor-in-chief
ArmeniaNow online magazine editor

*via The Armenian Observer Blog

‘Alternative’ message from Armenian Church calling for a dialogue and criticising media blackout and state propaganda in Armenia

The following message I received today from a reader of this blog informing that "a priest spoke on radio VEM today":

"I'm not a believer, but this man almost gave me back my faith.
He said Armenians know the truth.
He said there are too many sources of information for this government to control everything.
He said people should stop lying.
He said he saw with his own eyes what happened on Saturday (if I understood that well)."

I had a look at Radio VEM website (Christian radio station in Armenia established with the help of Diasporan Armenians) and found that broadcast. It is called “Responsibility” and features conversation (kind of heart-to-heart talk) with Armenian priest.

He put responsibility for current situation in Armenia and political crisis on both government and opposition, urging for tolerance and dialogue. He also strongly criticised media blackout imposed by Armenian authorities. He made parallels between current and Soviet Armenia where the only source of independent news for people was Radio Liberty (even Radio Liberty has been restricted in Armenia now, and people find alternative online ways to access it). Armenian priest expressed his astonishment by the fact that – due to Internet censorship of many independent and pro-opposition sites - currently some Armenians go to Azeri web sites in order to get information on situation in Armenia (!). He also criticised one-sided coverage of state controlled TV stations before and after 1 March. In fact, he said that state propaganda is partly responsible for such a scale of popular support for Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

With news media paralysed and websites inaccessible, government is urged to lift state of emergency

Statement (Reporters Without Borders)

A 20-day state of emergency which President Robert Kocharyan proclaimed in the capital Yerevan on 1 March is having a serious impact on the activity of the news media, Reporters Without Borders said today. The emergency was declared after clashes between security forces and opposition protesters who say last month’s presidential election was rigged.

“This authoritarian decision to liable to reinforce part of the population’s resentment of the lack of real free expression in Armenia,” the press freedom organisation said. “We urge the authorities to lift the state of emergency so that the media can resume working normally and report on the circumstances in which force was used in clashes leaving a toll of eight dead and more than 130 wounded.”

Under the state of emergency, all news media are required to use only official information in their domestic coverage. Reporters Without Borders has learned that access to several online news publications - including the news agency A1+ (www.a1plus.am), the opposition newspaper Haykakan Jamanak (www.azatutyun.am) and website of the daily Aravot (www.aravot.am) - has been blocked by their hosting service provider, Arminco Ltd, on the orders of the security services.

The programmes of Radio Free Europe, the only foreign radio station to broadcast in Armenian, have been replaced by music, and the station’s website is also inaccessible.

Three pro-government dailies - Azg, Hayastani Hanrapetutyun and Hayots Ashxar - continue to be published but one of the most popular newspapers, Aravot, did not appear yesterday. The issue was banned by the security services after it was sent to the printer’s. The newspaper’s staff then decided to publish blank pages in protest but they were prevented from doing this as well. Other newspapers such as Haykakan Jamanak and 168 Zham were not published either.

A complaint has been brought against Levon Barseghyan, the president of the “Asparez” journalists club in Gyumri, the second largest city (125 km north of Yerevan), accusing him of organising illegal gatherings. He has denied this, and his denial has been supported by several witnesses, but his trial is due to start within a few days.

At least three journalists have had run-ins with the police in Gyumri. Radio Free Europe correspondent Satenik Vantsyan was hit by police officers. Nune Arevshatyan of Aravot was manhandled by policemen who took her camera. And Armine Vardanyan of local television station Gala TV was arrested while doing her a report and her equipment was confiscated, including the video she had filmed just before her arrest.

Many journalists have criticised the vagueness of the directive banning the use of unofficial information as it complicates their work. When they interview members of the government, for example, they often do not know whether they can publish the information.

The TV stations are under especially close surveillance. The national news reports and information they are providing are in fact being broadcast by police press officers. Not only is the video footage the same but also the analyses and comments.

Target - Radio Liberty, again...

We are steadily moving back towards the darkest years of bolshevik era...

Yerevan /Mediamax/- Head of the Public Relations Department of the Armenian Police Sayat Shirinian stated in Yerevan today that the Armenian service of “Liberty” Radio Station bears certain responsibility for the unrest in the capital city.

“The blame for the victims in certain sense falls on the Armenian service of “Liberty” Radio Station as well, which instigated by its misinformation the participants of the rally to unrest”, Sayat Shirinian stated.

Mediamax reports that Sayat Shirinian stated that “hearing the report of “Liberty” on my news conference on March 1, I was amazed at what I allegedly said there”.

“There is the blame of “Liberty” in the aggravation of the situation, since the participants of the rally were listening to the biased information, spread by “Liberty”, Sayat Shirinian.

They, Us and Liberty

Why on earth they went into trouble to stage the parliamentarian show if they could effectively cease Liberty’s national broadcast using mere technicality: not signing a new contract? Are they that stupid? Or was that just pilot testing? It seems to me that they rely on tiredness and apathy of population and… yes, summer vacation season (even president is away on vacation now – right timing, Mr. Kocharyan!). They thought that they will exhaust the anger, protests etc, and now when they attempt at it again, no one will have strength to protest, everyone will be tired of it, and… it will be very hot outside. Were they right? I am afraid so… Will they succeed? I hope no…

‘Eternal optimist’

*previous posts on the topic: here, here and here

Victory For Democracy

The Vote that Saved Radio Liberty

see also here and here





*video via ditord

Hand’s Off Our Liberty!

Protest action against the possible termination of the broadcast of Radio Liberty through the National Radio of Armenia took place in Yerevan today. This may happen if parliament approves proposed amendments to the Laws "On Television and Radio" and "On State Duties" that would ban Armenian-language foreign media programmes [read Radio Liberty] on public-service broadcast channels, and introduce heavy fees for those programmes on private channels. OSCE, Human Rights Watch, local civic and media organisations have already condemned the proposed amendments and considered them as threat to the freedom of press in Armenia.

See also Target: Radio Liberty

According to the reports of Armenian bloggers (artate, n3ssun4, tirami su, bekaisa, Observer) and A1+, activists and representatives of various NGOs gathered at Freedom (Liberty) Square and marched to the House of Parliament, with covered mouths symbolising the silencing of free and independent press, and carrying a 10 meter long poster "They voted against Freedom" with the faceless pictures and names of the 79 MPs who voted (first reading) for the bill on Friday.

(pictures via artate)



(picture via n3ssun4)

"They are faceless as they don't have their own viewpoint," said Amalia Kostanyan, the head of "Transparency International" Armenian Office referring to the fact that pro-government majority MPs vote for whatever PM or President instruct them.




(pictures via A1+)

"At all times in our newest history, whenever we were experiencing retreat from democracy, one of the first steps has been stopping the "Liberty" broadcasts. Today we are again living such times”, - according to the president of the Yerevan Press Club Boris Navasardyan.



(picture via Observer)

I want to join protesters and Observer in saying:

Hand’s Off Our Liberty!

Final vote on the bills is expected tomorrow.

Target: Radio Liberty

Legislative ‘cover up’ to shut down the main independent radio-broadcaster in Armenia

Armenian parliament is considering amendments to current broadcast and tax regulations laws which may effectively close down Radio Liberty and apparently proposed for that only reason.

Formally, the proposed legislative changes presented as amendments to the Laws "On Television and Radio" and "On State Duties”. They include very ‘technical’ changes, well, ‘technical’ at first sight, and for people who do not know Armenian reality. Surely, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) knows what is going on.

Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media was quick today to critisize proposed amendments “that would ban Armenian-language foreign media programmes on public-service broadcast channels, and introduce heavy fees for those programmes on private channels.”

"As Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is currently the only foreign media outlet using the Armenian Public Radio frequency, the adoption of the amendments would amount to a ban on their programmes in Armenia," wrote Haraszti in his letter to the Chairman of the National Assembly Tigran Torosyan. The Representative pointed out that Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is an alternative source of information in Armenia, providing a diversity of opinion that is especially needed during election periods. Haraszti called upon the National Assembly not to adopt the restrictive amendments.

"The proposed changes to the Laws "On Television and Radio" and "On State Duties" are incompatible with OSCE commitments to safeguard pluralism and the free flow of information in the media," Haraszti concluded.

Good statements, sure, but so what? We’ve heard these sorts of statements before, when independent A1+ TV station was effectively shut down through another ‘lawful’ process. And nothing happened, those who shut down A1+, successfully digested it and now are hungry again, they need another délicatesse.

Apparently, Armenian government does not feel enough pressure from European institutions to comply with its commitments to democracy and human rights on the way to European integration. Instead, Armenian authorities use more ‘sophisticated’ approaches in dealing with media and free speech – financial pressure (remember very high TV prices for parliamentary candidates during recent elections?).

For me, Radio Liberty is one of the most credible sources of information from Armenia and my favourite one. They are independent (even though US-financed), comprehensive, current and never boring (compared to osseous, impossibly boring Radio America, which is unbearable to listen). I started listening to Radio Liberty during Soviet period. Along with the BBC and Radio America, it was the source of dissident views on what is going on in Soviet Union and the world (and in my opinion, the best source). I continued listening to Radio Liberty after Armenia regained its independence. Back then, there were speculations that Radio Liberty may become obsolete due to emerging democracy in newly independent states. Unfortunately, democracy is still ‘emerging’ and the role of Radio Liberty is as valued as ever in development of democracy in our country.