PACE mull press freedom issue in Armenia

PACE winter session to be held on January 21-25 will present a report on "The state of press freedom in Europe," Armenia Today reports citing Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper.

According to the publication, a chapter of the report is devoted to press freedom in Armenia, also mentioning the oligarchs'case against Haykakan Zhamanak. The lawsuit filed by three oligarchs, Ruben Hayrapetyan, Samvel Aleksanyan and Levon Sargsyan, demanding payment of a large sum of money by the newspaper is being considered. Decriminalization of libel articles in 2010 was followed by more than 30 civil lawsuits, most of which were filed by officials or politicians against the media. In some cases, newspapers were forced to pay a large fine. Haykakan Zhamanak had to pay 6 million drams to MPs winning the case. Newspaper could pay the fine after raising funds among readers," the publication authors quoted the report.



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