On March 22 the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) published
its annual World Press Freedom Review for 2004. Examining the media situation
in 191 counties and territories, the IPI has revealed “the overwhelming failure
of the authorities in many parts of the world to properly investigate and prosecute
the killers of journalists”. With 78 journalists killed, 2004 has been one of
the worst years since IPI first started keeping records. In the opinion of IPI
Director Johann P. Fritz, if in some cases the impunity of the killers of journalists
is explained by ineffective investigation, corruption, judicial partiality,
inertia or plain apathy, in other cases the reason is clearer: “It is the government
that does not wish the perpetrators or the reason for the killing to come to
light. This joins the authorities and the perpetrators in a common cause: to
ensure that journalists are silenced and that embarrassing and uncomfortable
information never reaches the public domain.”
In the review section on Armenia it is noted that although there is no direct
censorship and plurality of media exists, the media in Armenia are not completely
free. The review describes the situation of the media legislation of the country
and lists the examples of the right infringements of journalists and media,
freedom of speech restrictions in 2004. In particular, the attacks on journalists
during the opposition rallies in Yerevan on April 5 and April 12-13 are presented,
along with numerous other cases of violence against journalists that occurred
in the capital and other cities of the country. IPI also tells about the non-granting
a broadcast license to “A1+” independent TV Company, deprived of air since April
2002.
“Attacks on journalists and independent media did not decrease this year, and
while the government tried to support journalists, the journalists still maintain
that these attempts were very much for show. As a result the media in the country
are still far from being free”, International Press Institute concludes.
In their assessment of press freedom situation in Armenia the review authors
also used the information of Yerevan Press Club.
