(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply disturbed by the criminal prosecution of Nikol Pashinian, editor-in-chief of the opposition daily “Oragir”, as well as by efforts on the part of President Robert Kocharian’s government to shut down the paper. **Updates IFEX alerts of 10 September and 8 September 1999** On 31 August 1999, a Yerevan court sentenced […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply disturbed by the criminal prosecution of Nikol
Pashinian, editor-in-chief of the opposition daily “Oragir”, as well as by
efforts on the part of President Robert Kocharian’s government to shut down
the paper.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 10 September and 8 September 1999**
On 31 August 1999, a Yerevan court sentenced Pashinian to one year in prison
on five separate counts of slander, libel, and refusing to obey a court
order that resulted from an earlier libel conviction. This is the first
criminal prosecution for libel of a journalist in post-Soviet Armenia. If
the sentence is carried out, it would mark the first imprisonment of a
journalist since Armenia became independent in 1991. Pashinian’s jail
sentence is scheduled to begin around 15 September; he remains free in the
meantime.
“Oragir” is affiliated with the Nor Ughi opposition party, headed by former
Education Minister Ashot Bleyan, who is now in prison awaiting trial on
embezzlement charges. Pashinian believes the authorities want to silence him
on political grounds.
Pashinian’s jail sentence results in part from two articles published in the
20 May edition of “Oragir”. The first article alleged that the wife of
Artashes Gegamian had attempted to smuggle diamonds out of the country.
(Pashinian claimed that the story was confirmed by customs officials). The
second article alleged that the son of Norik Aivazian, a prominent
legislator, had been involved in a brawl.
Apart from this criminal defamation conviction, Pashinian is also being
jailed for refusing to comply with court decisions in several civil cases.
In March, “Oragir” lost a defamation suit brought by National Security
Minister Serzh Sarkisian for articles claiming rampant corruption in his
ministry. Pashinian refused to publish a retraction as ordered by the court.
In April, a Yerevan court ruled that “Oragir” had damaged the reputation of
Mika-Armenia, a local trading company, when it published a series of
articles accusing the firm of having won a government tender through
Sarkisian’s patronage. The court ordered “Oragir” to print a retraction and
pay a $25,000 fine, which the newspaper refused to do.
On 4 June, the court brought criminal charges against Pashinian for failing
to pay the fine and print a retraction. A few days later, the general
prosecutor’s office filed criminal charges against Pashinian for allegedly
verbally insulting two justice ministry officers when they tried to
confiscate his newspaper’s computer equipment. On 8 June, authorities shut
down the newspaper, sealed off its premises and froze all its bank accounts.
In July, the paper resumed publishing under another name, “Haykakan
Zhamanak”, in an effort to avoid new lawsuits. For nearly a week beginning 3
September, Pigran Met, the daily’s printer, temporarily halted printing
“Haykakan Zhamanak”, claiming it had failed to pay its bills. Pashinian
claims that his account was up to date and that the printer acted in
response to government pressure.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
government’s attempts to shut down the newspaper
or
she writes
violation of international conventions on free expression, to which Armenia
is a signatory
jail
sentence is overturned, and to work for the repeal of all Armenian laws that
criminalise free expression
Appeals To
His Excellency Robert Kocharian
President of the Republic of Armenia
26 Marshall Baghramyan St.
Yerevan, Armenia 375012
Fax: +3742 151 152
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
