Trial of Journalists Opened in Turkey Owing to Armenian GenocideFebruary 7, 2006 - 16:40 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Trial of 5 journalists indicted for insulting state judicial bodies of the country and putting pressure upon them will start in Turkey today. Last September 4 correspondents of the Radical newspaper and correspondent of the Milliyet newspaper condemned the decision of the Turkish court banning the conference on the Armenian Genocide. In case the journalists admit their guilt, they may face imprisonment from 6 months to 10 years. "I did not do anything, I merely exercised my right for freedom of speech and stated that the conference was necessary and the court hampered establishment of democracy," stated correspondent of the Milliyet Hasan Cemal. He urged the Turkish authorities to encourage "change of mentality" in judicial institutions, as well as reform article 301 of the Criminal Code of Turkey, which provides for punishment for "insulting state judicial institutions of Turkey" that many intelligentsia representatives were charged with. Charges against Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk were brought in compliance with that article. According to BIA NGO, which is engaged in freedom of speech and journalists' rights, proceedings on criminal cases are instituted against 29 journalists and publishers by now, reported RFE/RL. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lemkin Institute urges Armenia to respect people’s right to dissent The Lemkin Institute has urged the Armenian government to respect people’s fundamental human right to express their dissent. Iran’s Red Crescent sends aid to Armenia’s flood-hit regions The Iranian Red Crescent Society has sent humanitarian aid to the victims of deadly floods that hit northern Armenia on May 25-26. Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. |