The Prosecutor’s Office of Center and Nork-Marash Communities of Yerevan refused the National Scout Movement in instituting a criminal action against the Chief Editor of “Haikakan Zhamanak” daily Nikol Pashinian and journalist Armenak Mikaelian by Article 131 (libel) of RA Criminal Code (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, March 10-16 and February 17-23, 2001).
On March 22, in the interview to “Aravot” daily the Head of the Central Board of the National Scout Movement Bagrat Yesayan explained the decision of the Prosecutor’s Office by the fact that Article 131 of RA Criminal Code stipulates punishment for libels upon individuals. According to Yesayan, the Prosecutor’s Office recommended them to start court proceedings on civil suit. “Yet, as this presupposes either a refutation or a discontinuation of the activities of the daily, we need no refutation from Nikol Pashinian, and we do not pursue the objective of shutting down the newspaper”, Yesayan said.
