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NGOS: "RECENTLY THE POLITICAL ELITES AND THE BUSINESS TYCOONS SHOW ACTIVENESS IN EXERTING PRESSURE ON THE MEDIA"
http://hetq.am/eng/news/23234/ngos-recently-the-political-elites-and-the-business-tycoons-show-activeness-in-exerting-pressure-on-the-media.html
22:17, February 11, 2013
In the beginning of this year, the Armenian journalistic organizations
marked a notable decline of court cases against the media in 2012.
This was also evidenced by the Human Rights Watch international
organization, which noted in its latest report that politically
motivated defamation lawsuits no longer appear to be a serious problem
in Armenia.
Nevertheless, recently, the political elites and the business
tycoons show activeness in exerting pressure on the media, through
filing lawsuits against media and claiming the highest amounts of
pecuniary compensation. At the same time, motions on putting a ban on
the property and assets of the media are being submitted along with
the lawsuits. A vivid example of this is the lawsuit of the Armenian
Second President Robert Kocharian and his son versus www.1in.am, as
well as the two lawsuits of businessman Khachik Khachatrian versus
"Zhoghovurd" daily.
As regards the courts, it has become a common trend to partially uphold
the motions on securing the suits, which bans the property of the
media. Formally, these decisions seem to be intact, however, they lay
ground for a fallacious practice, which can benefit the plaintiffs of
exerting pressure on the media before a decision on the merits is made.
We, the undersigned, consider such a campaign by the political and
business elites against the media unacceptable, and urge them to be
more tolerant and seek for off-court solutions.
We also call upon the courts to show a more balanced approach and
uphold the motions on banning the property of the media in highly
exceptional cases, taking into account that this causes psychological
pressure on the journalists, which may lead to self-censorship.
We once again draw the attention of the RA National Assembly on
the fact that the lack of necessary criteria for awarding pecuniary
compensation, as defined in Article 1087.1 of RA Civil Code, is a
temptation for the plaintiffs willing to settle accounts with the
media. In this regard, we call to take respective steps for clarifying
these legal provisions.
Yerevan Press Club Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression
Internews Media Support NGO "Asparez" Journalists' Club Media Diversity
Institute-Armenia "Journalists for the Future" NGO Goris Press Club
"Journalists for Human Rights" NGO "Protection of Rights without
Borders" NGO Martuni Women's Community Council "Yerashkhik" Civil
Society Center "Nor Serund" Humanitarian NGO
February 11, 2013
http://hetq.am/eng/news/23234/ngos-recently-the-political-elites-and-the-business-tycoons-show-activeness-in-exerting-pressure-on-the-media.html
22:17, February 11, 2013
In the beginning of this year, the Armenian journalistic organizations
marked a notable decline of court cases against the media in 2012.
This was also evidenced by the Human Rights Watch international
organization, which noted in its latest report that politically
motivated defamation lawsuits no longer appear to be a serious problem
in Armenia.
Nevertheless, recently, the political elites and the business
tycoons show activeness in exerting pressure on the media, through
filing lawsuits against media and claiming the highest amounts of
pecuniary compensation. At the same time, motions on putting a ban on
the property and assets of the media are being submitted along with
the lawsuits. A vivid example of this is the lawsuit of the Armenian
Second President Robert Kocharian and his son versus www.1in.am, as
well as the two lawsuits of businessman Khachik Khachatrian versus
"Zhoghovurd" daily.
As regards the courts, it has become a common trend to partially uphold
the motions on securing the suits, which bans the property of the
media. Formally, these decisions seem to be intact, however, they lay
ground for a fallacious practice, which can benefit the plaintiffs of
exerting pressure on the media before a decision on the merits is made.
We, the undersigned, consider such a campaign by the political and
business elites against the media unacceptable, and urge them to be
more tolerant and seek for off-court solutions.
We also call upon the courts to show a more balanced approach and
uphold the motions on banning the property of the media in highly
exceptional cases, taking into account that this causes psychological
pressure on the journalists, which may lead to self-censorship.
We once again draw the attention of the RA National Assembly on
the fact that the lack of necessary criteria for awarding pecuniary
compensation, as defined in Article 1087.1 of RA Civil Code, is a
temptation for the plaintiffs willing to settle accounts with the
media. In this regard, we call to take respective steps for clarifying
these legal provisions.
Yerevan Press Club Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression
Internews Media Support NGO "Asparez" Journalists' Club Media Diversity
Institute-Armenia "Journalists for the Future" NGO Goris Press Club
"Journalists for Human Rights" NGO "Protection of Rights without
Borders" NGO Martuni Women's Community Council "Yerashkhik" Civil
Society Center "Nor Serund" Humanitarian NGO
February 11, 2013