OSCE media freedom representative expresses concern over continuing violence against journalists in Armenia

VIENNA, 30 April 2009 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, asked the Armenian authorities to swiftly investigate the brutal attack against Argishti Kiviryan, coordinator of the Armenia Today information portal, who was severely beaten today. 

"The lack of results into cases of violence against journalists creates an atmosphere of impunity for the perpetrators and can provoke other cases of violence against media workers," wrote Haraszti in a letter to Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan and Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan.

The Representative expressed concern over continuing violence against journalists in Armenia referring to the unresolved cases of violence against Lusine Barseghyan from the opposition newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak; Hrach Melkumyan, the acting Chief of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Yerevan bureau; and Edik Baghdasaryan, the Chairman of the Investigative Journalists' Association.

"In light of today's attack against Argishti Kiviryan, I once again call on your authorities to swiftly and thoroughly investigate all cases of violence against journalists, and also to publicly express their firm commitment to ensure the safety of Armenian journalists."