STATEMENT

We, the public organizations, express our concern over the negative and unacceptable developments that have been recently observed with regard to freedom of expression. The print media have been reporting that for several days already correspondents of broadcast media do not come to press conferences, organized at various press clubs. A supposition was made that this attitude is imposed by various power agencies. We realize that media do not have to cover all press conferences; however, the simultaneous and unanimous display of indifference to events of public importance only comes to confirm the version of intervention by “invisible hand”.
  We receive alarming information that over the past week heads of private TV companies were invited to various agencies, where they were “persuaded” to ignore the public events, appearances of certain opposition figures, not to invite them to studios, not to interview them and not to show them on air. In particular, the TV companies have received a “recommendation” not to cover (either positively or negatively) the rally of a number of political forces, scheduled for October 26.
  We remind that impeding the legitimate professional activities of journalists is a criminal offence. Moreover, Clause 2 of Article 164 of the RA Criminal Code refers to the commitment of the same offence by an official, using his/her position.
  Having no common political preferences or dislikes, all of us think it to be an urgent necessity that information and opinions be disseminated freely, in particular, ahead of presidential elections, and we call on authorities to abstain from interfering with the editorial policy of media, primarily the broadcasters, since it irreparably damages the freedom of expression and pluralism as cornerstone principles of democracy. 

OF YEREVAN PRESS CLUB, COMMITTEE TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, “ASPAREZ” JOURNALIST’S CLUB OF GYUMRI, VANADZOR PRESS CLUB, HELSINKI COMMITTEE OF ARMENIA, VANADZOR OFFICE OF HELSINKI CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLY