On February 20, at the Journalists Union of Armenia, a press conference of journalist Shushanik Abrahamian-Hairapetian was held. In September Shushanik Abrahamian-Hairapetian addressed the court of primary jurisdiction of Center and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan with a suit versus “Armenpress” news agency. The plaintiff demanded to be restored in the job previously occupied and compensation of the salary for the unintended idleness to be paid. The suit was grounded on the fact the dismissal notice (on the basis of contract expiration) of Shushanik Abrahamian-Hairapetian was illegal. It was dated June 29, 2001; however, it was given to the journalist only on July 12. Till that time she went on with her duties (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, September 22-28, 2001). The claim of the plaintiff was rejected, and the former “Armenpress” employee challenged this decision at the secondary jurisdiction body. The RA Court of Appeals left the decision of the court of primary jurisdiction unchanged.
As Shushanik Abrahamian-Hairapetian said at her meeting with journalists, she will go on fighting for her rights and has appealed to the RA Court of Cassation. According to the journalist, if this supreme judicial body of the country makes a decision against her, she will address the western media and the European Court of Human Rights.
At the session of the RA Court of Cassation on February 22, the suit of Shushanik Abrahamian-Hairapetian was dismissed.
