“Reporters Without Borders” organization published a report which reflects the picture of how many mass media representatives were killed during 2014 for implementing their professional duties. According to the report, 66 people fall a victim due to the chosen profession. It also notes that the number of deceased journalists in growing when we study the last ten years’ picture. In ten years, 720 mass media representatives in the world fell a victim for conducting their professional duties. The report focused on the countries that are the most dangerous for media representatives. It turned out that it is the second year since Syria is considered to be the most dangerous country, where 15 people were killed: 7 of them while covering the conflict in the Middle East, 6 journalists were killed in Ukraine, 4 – in Iraq and 4 – in Libya.
As for the number of kidnapped journalists, the organization mentions about 119 people who were kidnapped during this year. The number of kidnapped as compared to last year has grown by 35%. And the number of journalists in hostage, at the moment, is 40. The report notes that Ukraine ranks the first by the number of kidnapped journalists, it was here that 33 mass media employees were missing. Libya ranks the second, where the number of the missing is 29, Syria ranks the third – 27 people, then Iraq – 20 people. The report makes clear that the number of journalists kidnapped as compared to last year has grown by 37%. There is also a reference in the report about the number of the journalists imprisoned worldwide, which reaches 178 people.
And the countries where media representatives are imprisoned are as follows: China – 29 people, Eritrea – 28 people, Iran – 19, Egypt – 16 and Syria – 13 people. Note that a few months ago, the “Reporters Without Borders” organization was also concerned about Armenia, by the bill of amendments in the Civil Code, Article 1087.1, which is discussed by the National Assembly of Armenia. According to this bill, the media should bear responsibility for the comments posted on their websites, as well as for the contents reproduced from other web pages. Talking about our country in its website, the Organization has mentioned that Armenia ranks the 78th among 180 countries in the press freedom index for 2014, and has warned that the adoption of the bill would negatively influence on Armenia’s position in 2015 index.
EVA HAKOBYAN
