23 June 2015
Dunja Mijatovic, OSCE

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, today said journalists’ safety must be ensured at all times, following recent incidents and coercive actions by police against journalists covering public protest in Yerevan, Armenia

Link: OSCE

“Media has the right to cover public events and journalists must be able to report in a free and safe manner, without fear of harassment and intimidation,” Mijatović said.

On 23 June journalists from various media outlets, including Radio Azatutyun (RFE/RL), Hetq.am, Gala TV, Haykakan Zhamanak, News.am, PanArmenian.net, Epress.am, 1in.am, and ArmTimes.com, were reportedly physically attacked, mistreated, verbally assaulted and detained by police while covering a public demonstration in Yerevan. Some journalists also had their equipment damaged or seized.

“I call on the authorities to promptly investigate these incidents and take steps to ensure restraint on the part of law enforcement representatives toward members of the media,” Mijatović said.

Mijatović is in Bonn participating in the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum.

This publication has been produced within the project European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, co-funded by the European Commission. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso and its partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. The project's page