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  • Prosecutor General's Announcement Troublesome For Journalists

    PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S ANNOUNCEMENT TROUBLESOME FOR JOURNALISTS

    http://armenianow.com/society/human_rights/54815/armenianmedia_prosecutor_general_gevorg_kostanyan
    HUMAN RIGHTS | 30.05.14 | 12:44

    GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
    ArmeniaNow reporter

    An announcement from the Prosecutor General's office has created
    concern among media and raised accusations of stifling freedom
    of speech.

    Last week it was announced that unauthorized publication of preliminary
    investigation information could result in penalties up to a year in
    jail for the offender.

    Armenian attorney general, clarifying the prosecution's warning about
    publication of preliminary investigation data being penalized, where
    human rights activists and media organizations saw a threat, tried to
    dissipate journalist communities' concerns, saying that the warning
    is firstly directed to the subject having spread the information.

    The Freedom of Information Center of Armenia (FOICA) reflected on
    the General Prosecution's announcement, in its turn expressing its
    concern and considering the announcement problematic. The center said
    such a law restricts freedom of the press.

    On Thursday at a briefing with journalists Attorney General Gevorg
    Kostanyan assured journalists that they are not targeted, but rather
    the source of any investigation leaks.

    "If the journalist doesn't reveal the source of information, that's
    the journalist's right. If however s/he does, it is again the
    journalist's right. Nevertheless, the subject of the criminal case
    is not the media or the journalist, rather the one who, being a part
    of investigation, possessed information," said the attorney general
    adding that if the journalist uses his/her right and doesn't reveal
    the information source, another procedure is designed upon the law,
    when the journalist will be required to reveal the source in instances
    of grave or specifically grave criminal cases.

    The President of the Committee to Protect Freedom of Speech (CPFS),
    Ashot Melikyan tells ArmeniaNow that the Prosecution needs to police
    itself rather than threaten journalists.

    "They could have prepared a circular and reminded (agents) in their
    system that protecting secrecy in the preliminary investigation is
    their duty and if they don't they will be charged. A good question
    would be, if you did not aim to direct your words to journalists and
    media, why would you speak about it so publicly," says Melikyan.




    From: A. Papazian
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