On 21 July, Iravaban.net journalist Gevorg Tosunyan was subjected to violence on the Tigran Mets Avenue. His professional activities were hindered and he was forced with threats to delete a video recording and hand the memory card of his camera to a number of persons dressed as civilians.
The Armenian Lawyers’ Association has already spread an announcement condemning the event. Such incidents are fraught with many dangerous repercussions. Impunity will bring about distrust in the journalistic community and it will be no surprise if such incidents occur again.
The Armenian Lawyers’ Association has taken on the journalist’s defense. Henceforth, Gevorg Tosunyan’s lawyer will be Arthur Sukiasyan, an attorney and a member of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association.
Those who violated the journalist’s rights must be punished to the fullest extent of the law. We are convinced that if this case is properly dealt with the repetition of similar offenses will be eliminated in the future. Thus, we call upon law enforcement authorities to treat the cases of using violence against journalists and hindering their professional activities with all seriousness and responsibility.
Today the journalist was invited to the Special Investigation Service. He told the CIS representative about reporting on the incident and having been subjected to a judicial examination prior to that moment.