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The Union of Journalists of Armenia (UJA) on Thursday issued a statement warning of increasing pressure, violence and disrespect towards journalists in Armenia in recent days. The full statement is provided below.

"The Union of Journalists of Armenia warns about the increasing pressures on journalists and the media in recent days, disrespectful behavior towards them, insults, multiple cases of hindering the journalist's work, even threats to the life and health of journalists.

They are mainly carried out by the authorities and circles close to the government, on social networks, public places and news websites.

Thus, on May 13, during one of the actions of peaceful disobedience organized by the "Tavush for the Motherland" movement, Haykaz Jomardyan, the commander of the special purpose battalion of the Yerevan City Department, whose name became infamous in the context of the unprecedented brutal force in the "Yerablur" military pantheon towards the parents of the soldiers who died,  told the journalist of the Antifake.am website Hasmik Arakelyan, covering the action "You are the profane, do you understand, Hasmik Arakelyan, you are scum" as the journalist defended the mother of  a dead serviceman.

In connection with the incident, we request the police of the RA Ministry of Internal Affairs to give an assessment to their employees who ignore the policeman's rules of conduct.

On May 14, a police car ran over MediaHub.am website journalist Nare Gevorgyan on Abovyan Street.

And today, in Kirants community of Tavush region, member of the "Armenia" faction of the National Assembly, former journalist Gegham Nazaryan insulted, cursed, and affronted the founder of the NewDay.am website, journalist Ani Gevorgyan, who has been covering the events taking place in Tavush almost daily for about 2 months, demanded the journalist stop the live broadcast, hurt her honor and dignity, called the journalist a provocateur and allowed himself other insulting expressions.

Let us remind, that journalist Ani Gevorgyan was invited by the residents of Kirants community to cover the situation.

The Union of Journalists of Armenia strongly condemns the frequent and outrageous harassment towards journalists. No one has the right to ask a journalist to stop live broadcasting in a public place, during a public event. No one has the right to hinder the professional work of a journalist, to dishonor them, even more so, to show unbecoming behavior of a man and a deputy.

We call on the law enforcement agencies to take steps regarding the full and comprehensive investigation of the case of hindering journalist Ani Gevorgyan's professional work by MP Gegham Nazaryan.

Meantime, we urge our colleagues not to give in to provocations, to show careful and restrained behavior, to control their emotions, and not to violate the journalist's ethical rules even in the most difficult and sensitive situations.

We urge the international journalistic and human rights organizations and institutions to focus on the numerous cases of violence and disrespect towards journalists."