State of emergency and censorship
Armenia found itself in information blockade after declaration of the state of emergency for 20 days. The authorities should prevent the publication of opposition newspapers. Taking into consideration that official coverage is one-sided and is broadcasted by all TV channels, several newspapers refused of printing. Though the President made amendments in the point regarding the media activities but the censorship was being exercised by the NSS. For instance “Aravot” wasn’t allowed to publish white (empty) pages as if it will destabilize the situation. The article which was covering Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s press conference and a material about injured citizens from the hospital weren’t allowed to be published on March 14 since they were considered untrue. Shogher Matevosyan, the editor-in-chief of “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” told “Aravot” that they were ready to print official information: Condoleeza Rice’s , Mathew Brayza’s and Vardan Oskanyan’s announcements, Markes’ “The Autumn of the Patriarch” story. “We haven’t given our won standpoint which might be considered untrue. I don’t think that our humorous materials or Markes’ story were false information and calls to violence. Perhaps Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s press conference was considered false. Though I understand that it was ordered not to publish “ChI” at all.
Vasak Darbinyan, the editor-in-chief of “Taregir” and “Hayq” newspapers was also in the same condition. He was told that the NSS officials will look through the newspaper and decide to publish it or no in the midnight. “I was told that the NSS officers will come after midnight so I didn’t wait, left saying that I will come when I am needed. I called for several times till 3:00am but there was no clear answer. The newspaper wasn’t printed, and nobody gave me any answer”. He also concluded: “In short, there was an order not to print several newspapers, there were a list of newspapers. I worry about moral damage more than financial, forbidding the publication of newspapers without any grounded reason”.
Media can quote materials of Aravot.am with hyperlink to the certain material quoted. The hyperlink should be placed on the first passage of the text.
