As we have earlier informed, “Hetq” (online publication of Investigative Journalists NGO) reported to the Armenian law enforcement bodies about the threats received by its correspondent Ani Hovhannisian. The threats to finish up with the journalists were made in the readers’ comments to a dubious video material, placed on May 3 on Nrnak.com. Five days after this, Ani Hovhannisian “received a threatening telephone call from a cell number”, and “the caller told her to keep her nose out of business that does not concern her, otherwise it would wind up bad for her and her family members” (“Reporter and Members of her Family are Being Threatened”, “Hetq”, May 8, 2013). “Hetq” requested the RA Special Investigative Service and the RA Police to take urgent steps for ensuring the security of the journalist and finding the guilty persons (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, May 3-9, 2013).
On May 9, the Armenian Service of Radio "Free Europe"/Radio "Liberty" with reference to Ashot Aharonian, the Head of the RA Police PR and Information Department, reported that the law enforcement bodies are trying to identify the person who called “Hetq” correspondent. In the May 16 interview to Radio "Liberty", Ani Hovhannisian found it difficult to mention the real reasons for the ongoing. In the same interview, Edik Baghdasarian, the Head of Investigative Journalists, expressed doubts about the version that the telephone threats may be linked to the April 27 incident at the Northern Avenue of Yerevan: when police officer Vardan Ghukasian was dismissed of his duties for insulting and offending Ani Hovhannisian, who stood up for the street musician (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 26 – May 2, 2013). Edik Baghdasarian assumed that the real reason of the threats could be the journalistic investigation on offshore zones. Specifically, he and Ani Hovhannisian are currently examining the issue of investments by Armenian officials and deputies in Georgia.
