Censorship most common journalists rights violation in 2008

PanARMENIAN.Net - Freedom of Speech Protection Committee head Ashot Melikyan and expert Mesrop Harutyunyan presented an annual report on violations of journalists' rights in 2008 in Armenia.



Mesrop Harutyunyan drew parallels between 2003 and 2008, as these were the years of presidential elections in Armenia.



According to the report, 25 instances of violations were registered in 2003 and the number grew to 48 in 2008. The experts divided the offences into several categories, the first category including physical assaults, the second - pressure, the third - violation of the right to receive and disseminate the information.



The authors specified that censorship was among the most common of journalists' rights violations in 2008.



If previously the censorship was camouflaged, in 2008 during government-opposition conflicts, open censure, though illegal, was imposed upon the journalists.



Harutyunyan called on the government to create favorable conditions for journalists and secure freedom of speech.