Today the court hearing of the Armenia’s citizens Arman Sahakyan, Grigor Gevorgyan and Hovhanes Mkrtchyan against “Iravunk” newspaper and its editor Hovhannes Galajyan took place at the Court of Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts (Address: Tbilisyan khchughi, Yerevan, Armenia) by the presiding judge Arayik Melqumyan. During the court hearing the legal representative of the claimants Maro Khachaturyan presented new basis and new subject of the lawsuit the copies of which were given to the Court and to the representatives of the defendants. The latter asked for time to read and properly answer to the new claim basis due to which the next court hearing was confirmed for December 17 at 15:30.
As a reminder we hereby want to mention that On May 17, 2014 Iravunk. com Media published an article spreading hate and antagonizing individuals fighting for their basic domestic and international freedom of speech rights. The article written by Hovhannes Galajyan called out 60 persons involved in the movement to liberate Armenia, calling them “enemies of the Nation and State”. The article included a black list of “enemies.” By publishing the links of their Facebook pages and the following exhorts.
“1.Ordinary people, stop any type of relations with lobbyists on internet as well as in real life, do not greet them, do not help them if needed, do not start business relations with them.
2.State officers, do not give them positions in public service and if they are already working in the sphere, fire them using any suitable opportunity.
3. Employers, do not hire those lobbyists.
4. Mass media proprietors do not give a chance the lobbyists to have an influence on the public opinion.
5. Heads of educational institutions, do not allow those lobbyists to take part in upbringing and education of young generation.”
All this information, its entire nature and several expressions contain discrimination calls, offend honor and dignity of mentioned people and spatter their business reputation.
The list, among others, included “New Generation” Humanitarian NGO employees Arman Sahakyan, Grigor Gevorgyan and Hovhannes Mkrtchyan. The article called for all “blacklisted citizens” to be fired. On May 29, 2014, “New Generation” Humanitarian NGO requested the head of the board of “Iravunk Media” LTD, Hayk Babukhanyan, to recant the article and publicly apologize for spreading lies, hate, and bigotry. Nevertheless the Editorial Staff didn’t disprove the published information and in addition on 03.06.2014 another similar article was published with the following title: “And they still dare to claim a disproof?” By this they continue insulting and spread information which doesn’t correspond to reality. These two articles mentioned above were spread on different social websites.
In reference with this the 3 co-workers of “New Generation” Humanitarian NGO applied to the Court and took legal actions jointly against “Iravunq” newspaper.