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The Union of Journalists of Armenia (UJA) denounced the police violence against reporters at anti-government protests in Yerevan on Monday, urging the law-enforcement authorities to abandon the practice of double standards.

The UJA said in a statement that police officers used excessive force against protesters blocking streets in Yerevan as part of a civil disobedience movement led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan of the Tavush Diocese, as well as reporters covering the demonstrations.

“A police officer pushed ABC Media cameraman Mher Davtyan to the ground and left after seeing that he fell on the stairs there. Several special police officers (red berets) as well as a patrol police office used brute force against 24News.am journalist Mary Manukyan on Tumanyan Street, as a result of which she blacked out and was later hospitalized,” the organization said.

“Naturally, the Investigative Committee, which swiftly responds to any attempt to "hinder" the professional activities of journalists working for the ruling party and pro-government media in general and institutes criminal proceedings immediately, did not release any statement on the incident. Notably, the 24News.am editorial staff has expressed legitimate doubts that the police attack on the reporter was ordered.

“The Union of Journalists of Armenia strongly condemns all attempts of police brutality against reporters carrying out their professional work. We urge the Interior Ministry leadership to curb the instincts of their employees and the Investigative Committee to abandon the practice of applying double standards,” reads the statement.

The Union of Journalists also blasted the use of hate speech on social media and in public statements.

“We urge the international journalistic and human rights organizations to keep the police actions against journalists in the spotlight and give objective assessments to them,” the UJA added.