Law 17:59 05/08/2021 Armenia

Shushan Doydoyan: Decision to ban Panorama.am photographer from entering Armenian parliament ‘arbitrary’

Journalistic organizations will soon issue a joint statement on the decision to ban Panorama.am photographer Lilian Galstyan from entering the National Assembly of Armenia from August 5.

Speaking to Panorama.am, Director of the Freedom of Information Center NGO Shushan Doydoyan denounced the decision as “arbitrary”, highlighting the importance for the journalistic organizations to unanimously oppose it and put pressure on the authorities to overturn the ban.

The expert stated the ban on the entry of photographer Lilian Galstyan into the National Assembly is a gross obstruction of journalistic work, and, accordingly, a violation of the people’s right to get information, a gross restriction of freedom of and access to information.

“Although the National Assembly leadership is trying to lull the vigilance of the people, claiming that they are trying to regulate the work of journalists, in this case it is clear that all this is aimed not at regulating, but more at hindering the work of journalists, creating obstacles for them, thus depriving the public of the fundamental right to receive information,” Doydoyan said.

The Freedom of Information Center head noted that photographer Lilian Galstyan carried out her work with high professionalism and the published photos are shots of classical journalism, which reveal the situation in and around the parliament.

“She took great photos in the National Assembly, at its corridors. Everyone who saw those images called the restrictions that people in military uniform imposed on the media in the National Assembly absurd. And since the photos are worth a thousand words, clearly demonstrating the atmosphere that the parliamentary leadership has created for journalists, naturally, it is trying to take steps to prohibit a conscientious photographer from entering the National Assembly. This ban is illegal,” Doydoyan emphasized.

According to the expert, the entry of media representatives into a structure may be limited for only two reasons.

“In the first case, it may be limited if the presence of a journalist or a media representative may contain risks or security threats, which has absolutely nothing to do with this incident. The second case is when the number of journalists is so large that they have to apply entry restrictions, since everyone will not fit in the building, its halls. All other grounds are arbitrary and subjective and cannot be considered as consistent with the best international experience,” she underlined.

Shushan Doydoyan stressed the need for the parliament speaker to revise the decision as soon as possible, adding it will definitely affect the reputation of the legislative body.



Source Panorama.am
Share |

Related news

Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

11:36
World Cadet Chess Championship passes its halfway mark
The 2024 World Cadet Chess Championship has passed its halfway mark in Montesilvano, Italy. After 6 rounds, in the Open 12 category CM...
11:15
Iran to launch 'new and advanced centrifuges' in response to IAEA censure
Iran said Friday it would launch a series of "new and advanced" centrifuges in response to a resolution adopted by the IAEA that...
11:00
Armenian, Iranian foreign ministers hold phone call
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Thursday had a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi....
17:07
Winter military draft starts in Armenia on November 25
The winter conscription for compulsory military service starts in Armenia on November 25 to run through January 31, 2025. The...
16:45
Russian spokeswoman told not to comment on ballistic missile strike live on air
Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova received a phone call during a live press briefing on Thursday telling her not to...
16:33
Belgian politicians call for immediate release of all Armenian prisoners held in Baku
In the backdrop of the COP29 currently taking place in Baku 20 members of the Belgian Federal Parliament, the Flemish Parliament, the Walloon...
16:06
Armenia thwarts large-scale drug smuggling attempt
Officers of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee (SRC) have foiled an attempt to smuggle some 1,600 grams of cocaine into the country as part...
15:33
Armenian government reduces financial aid for Artsakh refugees
The Armenian government on Thursday approved a decision to reduce financial aid for the displaced Artsakh Armenians. Starting from...
14:45
Percival Everett wins National Book Award
Percival Everett has won the $10,000 National Book Award for fiction, one of the US’s most prestigious literary prizes, for James, his...
14:35
Pyunik v West Armenia match canceled
An Armenian Premier League match between FC Pyunik and West Armenia has been canceled. The 17th round match was scheduled for November 21....
14:06
Armenian Foreign Ministry denies cooperation with Azerbaijan on water management
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry has denied claims of cooperation with Azerbaijan on transboundary water resources management. In a social...
13:36
No rain in sight for rest of the week
Clear weather is expected in Armenia's regions from Thursday to Sunday.  Rain and snow are forecast for most parts of the country...
13:06
Pashinyan thanks dismissed officials for cooperation
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed gratitude to the dismissed top government officials for joint work and wished good luck to...
12:36
Armenian church marks Presentation of Virgin Mary
The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Thursday, November 21. According to tradition,...
12:15
Luxembourg's parliament demands immediate release of all unlawfully imprisoned persons in Azerbaijan
Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies has adopted a resolution condemning the Azerbaijani government’s sanctions against the freedom of...
12:00
Davit Khudatyan appointed minister of territorial administration
Armavir Governor Davit Khudatyan has been appointed Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. Armenian President Vahagn...
11:45
Australia launches bill to ban social media for children under 16
Australia's centre-left government on Thursday introduced a bill in parliament that aims to ban social media for children under 16 and...
11:30
Armenia's Andranik Avetisyan wins gold at World Military Wrestling Championships
The 37th World Military Wrestling Championships kicked off in Yerevan, Armenia, on Wednesday, bringing together 400 participants...
11:10
Leopard missing for two years spotted in Armenia's Tavush
A leopard, that lost its front paw and disappered from Armenia's Vayots Dzor Province in December 2022, has been spotted in...
17:09
Armenian political analyst warns of risk of nuclear war
Political scientist Stepan Danielyan has warned of an imminent threat of nuclear war after the Russian nuclear doctrine change. President...
16:45
Rain, snow expected in parts of Armenia
Rain and snow are forecast for some parts of Armenia on Wednesday, overnight Thursday, late on Sunday and next Monday. Clear weather is...
16:22
GM Robert Hovhannisyan qualifies for FIDE World Cup
The European Individual Chess Championship 2024 has concluded. GM Aleksandar Indjic from Serbia became the champion, scoring 9 points...
15:46
Cher reveals she lost her virginity at 14 to get revenge on boyfriend
Cher has revealed she lost her virginity at age 14 as an act of revenge against her teenage boyfriend, The Independent reports. In part...
15:32
Political analyst: Azerbaijan transported weapons to Nakhichevan 5 times in 4 days
Political analyst Sergei Melkonian, a research fellow at the Applied Policy Research Institute (APRI Armenia), says Azerbaijani planes carrying...
15:04
Azerbaijan attempts to distort Energy Charter goals in lawsuit against Armenia
Azerbaijan is attempting to distort the content and goals of the Energy Charter Treaty by trying to link it to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,...
14:32
Armenian MP calls for tough response to destruction of Artsakh heritage
Opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan calls for a tough international response to Azerbaijan’s destruction and desecration of Armenian...
13:52
Arpine Sargsyan appointed Armenian interior minister
Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan on Wednesday signed a decree to appoint Arpine Sargsyan as Armenia’s new interior minister....
13:30
November 20 is World COPD Day
World Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD) Day is marked annually on November 20. World COPD Day is organized by the Global...
13:06
Yerevan to spend some 549.7 million drams on New Year celebrations
The Yerevan Municipality will spend 549.7 million drams on the upcoming New Year celebrations in the Armenian capital, Deputy Yerevan Mayor...
12:34
Pashinyan names pick for new minister of territorial administration
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has named Davit Khudatyan as his pick for Armenia's new minister of territorial administration and...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}