An incident took place between journalist Suzy Badoyan from “Yerevan Today” and security guards accompanying the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office, Arsen Torosyan”.
The security guards first hindered the journalist’s work, did not allow her to ask questions to the Chief of Staff. Secondly, the security guard closed the car’s door serving Arsen Torosyan, hurting the journalist’s hand and damaging Badoyan’s filming equipment.
We view such events as a threat to freedom of speech. Security personnel must be polite when contacting journalists. As a high-ranking official, Arsen Torosyan, in his turn, had to scold the security officers who accompany him.
We demand that the journalist’s damaged equipment be compensated, the disrespectful behaviour of journalists be stopped, and that security officer be warned.
Electoral Rights Watch
Media Advocate Initiative
