On November 5 court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan continued the hearings on the suit of “Gind” printing house versus “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” newspaper founder, “Ogostos” LLC. As it has been reported, during the litigations, started on October 19, the plaintiff demanded to oblige “Ogostos” to pay off the debt for printing costs in the amount of 2 million AMD (about $ 5,200). According to Shogher Matevosian, Chief Editor of “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun”, the newspaper founder is not indebted to the printing house, all the expenses are covered on the ground of the contract, and since September 2009, after the conflict arose with “Gind”, the newspaper is being issued at “Mer Tparan” printing house (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, October 16-22, 2009).
At the session of November 5 the court secured the plaintiff’s petition and restricted the newspaper’s publisher, “Trespassers W.” LLC (involved in the case as third party), as well as other companies, to publish “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” in one of the printing houses. As newspaper Head Shogher Matevosian informed YPC, the representatives of the RA Service of Compulsory Execution of Court Acts – for implementing the court decision – have notified the printing houses, including “Mer Tparan”, about the imposed ban.
On November 10 eight journalistic and human rights organizations, including Yerevan Press Club, released a statement considering the ban on the issue of “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” as infringement of the right on free dissemination of information. Moreover, the decision, whatever it is stipulated by, contradicts Article 27 of RA Constitution and Article 10 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the statement noted. The public organizations demanded “to call off the court decision which runs counter the democratic principles”, end the persecution of “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” and solve the problem on a purely financial pattern.
Meanwhile, since November 10 the publisher and the editorial office of “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” (“Fourth Power”) started to issue a new newspaper, “Chorrord Inknishkhanutiun” (“Fourth Self-Power”).
