Today, the “A1 +” journalist Marine Khachatryan was interrogated. This is the journalist’s 3rd interrogation. Note that a criminal case was launched after the incident when on September 9, at the fences of the National Assembly, when covering the “Counterstrike” artgroups’ protest, the head of the NA Security Service, also the commander of the State Guard regiment battalion, Karen Hayrapetyan, hit the journalist’s hands and dropped the video-recording device, the Ipad, of the ground. The “A1 +” TV company director, Mesrop Movsisyan, in the conversation with Aravot.am, referring to today’s interrogation and process of the trial, said that he has the impression that everything is done to conceal the law case as soon as possible.
Mr. Movsisyan has such an impression because the arguments that are made by Karen Hayrapetyan are not trustworthy. “The arguments that are made by the guilty party (I mean Karen Hayrapetyan, the head of the NA Security Service – N. B.), and I consider him guilty, the crime that he has committed he is trying to conceal,” said the TV company Director. Karen Hayrapetyan, as said by Mr. Movsisyan, it trying to conceal the reality, reasoning allegedly he was nervous of the journalist’s conduct, allegedly he was nervous that day, and generally, he did not hit her, moreover, he has no connection with the case.
While, note that Karen Hayrapetyan actions are recorded. Mr. Movsisyan said, “I consider it funny, because there is a video which apparently depicts the situation. As to what the bases are for the investigating agencies to follow this direction, it will come with their final decision.” Confrontation was held between journalist Marine Khachatryan and the head of the NA Security Service, Karen Hayrapetyan. In this regard, the TV company director said, “Without feeling a shame, Hayrapetyan began blaming our journalist, who received a blow when implementing her duties, due to which the Ipad fell down from the hands of the journalist. The video fixes the situation where it is clear seen that he brutally attacks the young girl and hits her. Initially, he was saying that it was a one-time blow, and it cannot be considered a pressure, beating, and I do not see any element of crime there, and so on. I also consider this ridiculous.”
To the question of Aravot.am of what the reason is that the work of journalists is obstacle many times, but also it is officially said that the media and the journalist are free, Mr. Movsisyan said, “This neglected situation, this atmosphere of impunity, no one until now has ever been punished, nor imposed a penalty. Voila, the consequence of it, and they want to keep doing the same. There has been thousands of cases and all these cases have been recorded. If 5 officials believe that all the rest are stupid, in this case, they turn to be stupid, because everyone understands, laughs and accuses these people. If it seems to them that by concealing the law case by the decision of an investigative body, something will be changed in people’s sentiment, they are wrong. We will not be changed either, we will keep going, we will insist that there was an attack, a strike, and there was obstacle to the journalist’s work. Let 8 people repeat again that the media in our country is free, and our journalists are free to work, and there has never been any pressure on them, it will only remain on funny platform.”
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