It appears that in an electoral district a member of electoral commission has the right to say the following insults to a journalist for performing her duties: “Were you a guy, I would punch in your ugly face”, “were you a guy I would say you what”, “look at this wretch!”, and that it does not contain any elements of crime. The latter is the conclusion of H.P.Halabyan, an investigator and a police senior lieutenant at the Police Department of Malatia. Let me remind you that with such threats, a member of electoral commission in 7/46 electoral district, a representative of OEK party Arayik Gevorgyan attacked Hripsime Jebejyan, a journalist in “Aravot” daily, on April 2. I think for such brilliant investigation the senior lieutenant must urgently be promoted to the rank of captain.
I do not know, maybe the OEK member of the commission or the senior lieutenant talk with such expressions to their wives at home, and there is really no need to file a criminal case in this instance. But in this case, we are talking about an electoral district, where a significant event for the public was taking place. Through such posture the police “green-lights” new hooligans’ attacks on journalists. The government tells swaggerers to act the way they want during elections, as the police will deal with all the consequences for them.
I do not know how individuals like Arayik “find common language” with the police. Perhaps they “pay” them, or find friends and acquaintances (especially that the spiritual similarities are obvious), or perhaps someone calls from “above” and says, “Arayik is our man. Don’t hurt him”. But it is not so important. The important matter is that Arayik and others like him appear as an example of how a commissioner should talk to journalists, and how a man (or at least one who seems so in appearance) should talk to a woman. New Arayik and H.P.Halabyan will appear soon who will shape the legal and electoral system of Armenia. My writing is certainly not going to change anything. My job is merely to warn you, the rest is your business, dear readers.
This is what we mean when saying impunity.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
