Pashinyan turns against Armenian journalists and their relatives Fourth estate sounds alarm

Despite Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's efforts to appear as a man of the people and open to communication with the press, nevertheless, the "fourth estate" in the "country of stones" is alarmed by the threats and repressions from the "walking government". This trend has particularly intensified after Pashinyan's recent press conference, at which, in his opinion, journalists and bloggers asked him inappropriate and provocative questions.

In its turn, Armenia’s Union of Journalists issued a statement condemning the authorities' attacks on the press.

"After Nikol Pashinyan's hours-long press conference, during which the journalistic community embarrassed him with their questions, objecting to his words with facts, some journalists who participated in that event, in particular the founder of NewDay.am website, journalist Ani Gevorgyan and Aravot.am journalist Hripsime Jebejian were attacked by government representatives, circles close to the authorities and media outlets (who do not even exist)., journalist Ani Gevorgyan and Aravot.am journalist Hripsime Jebejyan were attacked by government representatives, circles close to the authorities and media outlets (which do not even have their own editorial offices), fake NGOs, and pro-government social media users.

After Nikol Pashinyan’s hours-long press conference, during which the journalistic community embarrassed him with their questions, objecting to his words with facts, some of the journalists who participated in that event, in particular, the founder of the NewDay.am website, journalist Ani Gevorgyan and the journalist of the website Aravot.am

Hripsime Jebejyan was attacked by government representatives, circles close to the authorities and the media (which do not even have their own editorial offices), fake NGOs, and pro-government users of social networks.

Threatening posts are posted on social networks, including those addressed to their families, and Nikol Pashinyan's press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan does not hide the fact that she has been instructed to find out from Hripsime Jebejyan the number of her relative whose question the journalist asked Pashinyan. Naturally, publications about this appear on the website belonging to Nikol Pashinyan's family and are disseminated in the media related to the person holding a high position in the Prime Minister's Office.

There is an impression that the authorities want to take revenge on the journalist or her relatives, although a media representative is not obliged to give her relative's phone number to anyone, even if Pashinian himself demands it.

Threats are also sounded against Ani Gevorgyan. Mostly fake users threaten to burn her, torture her and insult the journalist.

All this is not done by chance or spontaneously. Attacks on journalists began to take place after Pashinian's press conference. The Union of Journalists of Armenia strongly condemns these organised, purposeful, brazen attacks on journalists and calls on the authorities to stop. The journalists fulfilled their professional duties and functions, did not insult Nikol Pashinyan, did not interrupt him, did not get into an altercation, but only objected and were as correct as possible when he accused them of various sins, including calling simple enquiries a political action.

The responsibility for the harassment of journalists lies solely with the authorities, in particular with Nikol Pashinyan himself.

We also draw the attention of law enforcement agencies to the fact that the lives and professional activities of journalists are under threat. You are responsible for the safety of their lives and professional activities.

With this statement we also inform the international partners of the Union of Journalists of Armenia and warn them about the campaign against journalists unleashed by the RA authorities and pro-government circles," the statement of the Armenian Union of Journalists reads.