Freedom of Speech Committee says 11 journalists assaulted in Armenia in 2009

According to Committee Chair Ashot Melikyan, negative trends from 2008 continued during the six first months of 2009, including the cases of assault against Gagik Shamyan, Argishti Kiviryan and Nver Mnatsakanyan.

Melikyan, however, registered an improvement in the second half of the year.

"There were no recorded cases of physical violence and cases of hindering the work of journalists have decreased. Overall, if compared with 2008, violations were less in 2009, in the number of cases,” he said.

In 2009, registered were 11 cases of physical assault, 14 cases of applying pressure, and 13 cases of hindering the process of acquiring information.

For comparison, in 2008, there were 18 cases of physical assault, 16 of pressure, and 14 of hindering accessing information.

“Though the number of cases has declined, the situation cannot be considered good. It remains disturbing,” said Melikyan.

/Tert.am/