Attacks on the Press in 2005 - Armenia

Committee to Protect Journalists releases "Attacks on the Press report". Here we present the section related to Armenia.

  • Despite recommendations from the Council of Europe and other international
    organizations, the government in February rejected for the 10th time a broadcast
    license application filed by A1+, the independent television station pulled off
    the air in 2002. The station continued to operate a popular news Web site,
    publish a weekly newspaper, and produce programs for regional television
    stations.
  • In February, the Interior Ministry closed its investigation into a 2004 arson
    attack on a car owned by editor Nikola Pashinian of the independent daily
    Haikakan Zhamanak in the capital, Yerevan. No arrests were made. Haikakan
    Zhamanak reported that police never interviewed a politician whom the newspaper
    believed to be responsible.
  • Arson was used as a means of attack again on April 1, when someone burned the
    car of Samuel Aleksanian, editor-in-chief of the state weekly Syunyats Yerkir in
    the southern city of Goris, according to local press reports. Aleksanian said
    the attack followed his criticism of the local governor.
  • Armenian politicians cited the "war on terror" as reason for passing
    legislation restricting press coverage of terrorism. President Robert Kocharian
    signed the measure on April 19, ignoring concerns over vaguely worded
    prohibitions on reporting of antiterror tactics, the Yerevan Press Club
    reported.