As it has already been reported (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, February 17-23, 2001), the National Scout Movement requested the General Prosecutor of Armenia to institute a criminal action against Chief Editor of “Haikakan Zhamanak” daily Nikol Pashinian and journalist Armenak Mikaelian, for the libel published in the article “Coup d’Etat Happened on October 27”. In the opinion of the plaintiff, this story, published by “Haikakan Zhamanak” on February 21, 2001, contained invalid suppositions that the Scout Movement, founded by Dashnaktsoutiun Party, is terrorist organization, standing behind the tragic events of October 27, 1999, in the Armenian Parliament.
Recently Nikol Pashinian, Chief Editor of “Haikakan Zhamanak”, was summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office of Center and Nork-Marash Communities of Yerevan to explain the facts mentioned in the article. Pashinian informed Yerevan Press Club that the law enabled him not to go to the Prosecutor’s Office, yet, as the story was widely covered by the Armenian media, Chief Editor decided to give explanation on every issue, connected with the publication, as an act of good will. “I introduced the Prosecutor’s Office all sources of information, 99% of which was based on the materials of October 27 case”, mentioned Pashinian.
