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YPC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2007

In compliance with Article 12 "Transparency of financial sources" of the RA Law “On Mass Communication”, we present the 2007 financial report of Yerevan Press Club Weekly Newsletter and the website http://www.ypc.am

In 2007, a total of 4,801,680 AMD was spent for the publication of YPC Weekly Newsletter and the support of the website http://www.ypc.am in the English and Russian languages.

The whole sum was covered by a grant provided by Open Society Institute.

CAR OF “ASPAREZ” JOURNALIST’S CLUB PRESIDENT SET ON FIRE

In Gyumri in the early morning of March 21, 2008, at 01.05 the Opel Vectra car owned by the President of “Asparez” Journalist’s Club of Gyumri Nadezhda Hakobian was set on fire. At the time the car was being used by the Chairman of the Club Board Levon Barseghian. According to Levon Barseghian, the arson was committed after he had returned to “Asparez” office from “GALA” TV company. He and the two nightmen saw two men fleeing away from the car ablaze, one wearing a cream-colored jacket, the other - a black one. By a preliminary estimate, the damage caused amounts to 900,000 AMD (around $ 3,000). On March 21 the investigation department of the Police of Shirak region instituted criminal proceedings by Article 185 of the RA Criminal Code ("Intentional destruction or damage of property”). On his behalf Levon Barseghian promised to award two similar cars to the police division that will disclose the crime.

On March 21 a number of public, also journalistic, organizations and media made statement, saying, in particular:

"Levon Barseghian is sure that this incident is directly related to his efforts to protect “GALA” TV and the strict criticism of authorities voiced by him on that and a number of other occasions, as well as the number of threatening phone calls addressed to him and the Club, and the arson attempt of “Asparez” office on the morning of January 19, 2008.

Let us also remind that on February 25, 2008 the Gyumri Mayor publicly insulted and threatened “GALA” TV and “Asparez” Club, stating, that “in our city there are a couple of sections that disgust people. This is the “GALA section” and “Asparez section” (...), let them come to their senses, too”. “Asparez” appealed to the local police to file a criminal case against the Mayor for insulting, libeling and threatening, but was refused “due to lack of corpus delicti”.

We state that this assault in Gyumri against the independent journalistic organization is the direct consequence, from one side, of banning any form of dissent, political persecutions, hindering the work of opposition and independent organizations and media, from the other - preferential permissiveness of persons and bodies amiable to the authorities. The unprecedented activity of citizens in support of the freedom of speech and “GALA” TV under such conditions has probably caused the dislike of some persons and especially the Gyumri Mayor, who on March 20 urged the citizens not to support “GALA” speaking on another TV channel in Gyumri.

We strictly condemn this illicit act against our colleagues, and as none of the attacks against “Asparez” has been so far disclosed by Gyumri law enforcement bodies, and this failure has made the criminals further unrestrained, we demand that investigation of all these incidents should be conducted by national law-enforcement bodies. " The statement was signed by Yerevan Press Club, the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, Media Diversity Institute-Armenia, “Internews” Media Support NGO, Transparency International Anticorruption Center, “ArmInfo” news agency, “Antenna” NGO, Radio “Van”, Vanadzor Press Club, Vanadzor Office of Helsinki Citizen Assembly, “Haikakan Zhamanak” daily, Freedom of Information Center of Armenia, “Zhamanak-Yerevan” daily, journalist Marina Grigorian, Goris Press Club.

AMOUNT NECESSARY TO COVER “GALA” TAX LIABILITY RAISED

On March 25 at 17.15 the Headquarters to Protect Free Expression and “GALA” TV Company announced the end of telethon held on the live air of “GALA” to raise funds to pay off the tax liability. As it has been reported, on March 19 the RA Administrative Court read the ruling on the dispute between the Gyumri Tax Inspection and the founder of “GALA”, “CHAP” LLC, committing the company to pay the tax liability and fines amounting to over 25 million AMD. On the same day on the air of “GALA” a telethon was launched to last until the necessary amount is raised (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, March 14-20, 2008). On March 20 to recover the liability “CHAP” LLC was visited by the representatives of the RA Compulsory Execution Service. The overall amount that “GALA” founder was to pay including the litigation and the execution expenses came to 26 million 899 thousand AMD (about $ 90,000). In the course of the telethon 26 million 458 thousand AMD was raised and given to the compulsory executors, and the lacking amount was covered from “CHAP” LLC’s bank account. It should also be noted that the funds to support the TV company were received mostly from the citizens and organizations of Armenia. The transfers to the bank account from abroad started to be received since March 26.

PERSPECTIVE
WILL THERE BE A RETURN TO JOURNALISM?

The dark cloud of sad events and disgraceful deeds of the past weeks has been pierced by a ray of sunshine. The telethon to raise funds for “GALA” TV company of Gyumri, harassed by authorities for many months on end, has shown that people are able to tell the difference between the real news and brainwashing, that they are able to value the little democratic achievements that they have. Our colleagues in Gyumri, “GALA” and “Asparez” Journalist’s Club that initiated the campaign to support the TV channel, brought to shame the TV journalism stars in the Armenian capital who justify their bias by saying the free word in Armenia is not protected by anything or anyone.

Only one camera (that of “Yerkir Media” TV company) was shooting the press conference in Yerevan, held on the arson of the car, used by the Chairman of “Asparez” Board Levon Barseghian, and the unprecedented fundraising for “GALA”. The others - over a dozen of Yerevan TV companies and at least as many pro-governmental national newspapers - thought this news “did not deserve attention”.

One can find different words to define a profession that allows such behavior, but the word “journalism” would certainly not appear on this list. One of the applicable words, “brainwashing”, has already been mentioned. It may be used when those who claim the title of journalist have taken to streets - under emergency rule that bans addressing domestic policy beyond official communications. They did it so as to find people ready to pour the dirtiest swearing on the opposition. It is clear that one dreams of delighting the ears of those who banned such behavior with a decree but are generously forgiving in some specific cases, when “the fair assessment” is necessary. But where has this ardor come from? May it be that they miss the communist rule when the explanations of what is to be labeled as black and what as white were given from above once and for all, and one did not have to think and ponder about the social responsibility, did not have to help the society be fully informed, to grope for truth?

Another word that can be proposed is “Bacchanalia”. It is true, the authorities, through considerations of their own, have not announced official morning for the deaths of March 1. But has it not dawned upon people - with no prompts from “above” - that entertaining shows could be taken off air for a couple of days? Might it be that the ability to make independent decisions has been lost even at this level? Then we can expect another outburst of TV fun on the 40th day of the tragedy. Moreover, April 9 will have enough pretext for that.

The words “blackmail”, “witch-hunt” are also more appropriate than the term “journalism”. The international organizations are addressed all kinds of “fie” regarding their assessments of the political process we are having. They have suddenly become incompetent and practicing “double standards”... Yet not that long ago, on February 20, they were our dearest friends, having praised our elections and the progress of our democracy. The subject of Millennium Challenge Account is particularly popular today - “if you refuse us the money, we shall get it from Russia”. The fact that many countries want to help us is undoubtedly encouraging, and we are grateful to all of them. But becoming an MCA beneficiary means not only money. It is first of all a recognition that the country adheres to values, common for the civilized world. And it has not been long since our “court” media engaged in clever reflections on the matter. Hence, it would be quite reasonable to expect these media to give explanations today as to what the exclusion from the beneficiary list or suspension of funding means. But for some reason they find more pleasure in channeling threats of “divorce”, accusations of importing “colored revolutions” and of setting up a “fifth column” in the country.

And now I would like to once again answer the constantly present question of the “court” media: “Why do you not give your assessment to what the opposition media are doing? Is their behavior always fair, truthful and ethical? Do you like their tone and phrasings?” No, I do not like these. But as of today this worries me little. Firstly, what they write is their own business, and nobody makes me read this. Secondly, the authorities are not tied in any way to exercise law against them if they do anything wrong (to say nothing of the illegal repressions being practiced throughout the past weeks). Finally, how can one compare the influence and the readership of several newspapers and online publications out of governmental control with the gigantic broadcast machine, engaged in propaganda. And if today the attention of the media audience tilts towards the former group, this is the problem of those who exchanged journalism for occupations that imitate it.

What worried me is the Public TV and Radio Company that exists through the money of all the citizens of the country, regardless of how they ticked their ballots. What worries me are the private broadcasters who neglect the public mission they assumed upon the receipt of license to use our common resource, the frequency. When they return to the occupation, called journalism, one will be able to afford worrying about other media.

But will they ever return? Had it not been for the “optimistic tragedy” that occurred recently with “GALA” TV company, the tone of the question would have been more sadly pre-determined.

Boris NAVASARDIAN

EIGHT MEDIA CALLED ON THE CITIZENS TO INFORM THEM ABOUT ILLEGAL ACTIONS

On March 27 “A1+” TV company, “Aravot”, “Zhamanak-Yerevan”, “Hayk”, “Haikakan Zhamanak”, “Hraparak”, “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun”, “Taregir” newspapers made a statement, calling on all the citizens of Armenia to inform the editorial offices about the illegal actions that are committed against them.

“In the center of the capital the police officers that patrol the vicinity of Liberty Square continue the violence and harassment of peaceful citizens. Almost every day there are reports that people who were strolling about the city are brought to the police precincts, of the violation of the constitutional right to free movement of people who happened to be in that area of the capital, of the use of batons against innocent people, and of other illegal actions”, the statement of eight media says, in particular. The signatories also specified the phone numbers that can be dialed, stressing they consider it to be “their duty to inform the society about such cases in every detail and thus protect the constitutional rights of the RA citizens”.

INCIDENTS WITH JOURNALISTS IN KOTAYK REGION

On March 25 in the city of Hrazdan (Kotayk region) representatives of law enforcement bodies impeded the work of the correspondent of “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” newspaper Taguhi Tovmasian, the free-lance journalist Gagik Shamshian and the correspondent of “Zhamanak-Yerevan” daily Karineh Harutiunian. The journalists arrived in Hrazdan to cover the protest actions to support the deputy of the RA National Assembly Sasun Mikaelian and other opposition politicians, arrested in the context of March 1 events in Yerevan.

During the rally the representatives of law enforcement bodies tried to take away Taguhi Tovmasian’s recorder and Gagik Shamshian’s photo camera. According to Gagik Shamshian, the police also tried to push him into the police car by force. He was saved only by the intervention of the locals, who further helped him and Taguhi Tovmasian to escape. Gagik Shamshian said that the law enforcement officers started to follow them, and they were only able to get to Yerevan by the vehicle of the Rapid Response Group of the RA Human Right’s Defender’s staff.

According to the correspondent of “Zhamanak-Yerevan” daily Karineh Harutiunian, the editorial car was followed upon the exit of Hrazdan and was stopped by the officers of the State Traffic Inspection and the local police. Karineh Harutiunian and the driver were brought to the Police of the Kotayk region. According to Karineh Harutiunian, on the way and at the police premises she was not allowed to use her mobile phone, her arms were twisted when she attempted to answer her phone calls. At the police Karine Harutiunian was threatened: as it turned out, the local senior police officers were indignant at the photographs published in one of “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” issues. As the journalist noted, for unknown reasons soon the officers started to treat her in a milder manner, and an hour later she and the driver were released.

On March 27, 2008 “Zhamanak-Yerevan” daily reported also that, by its information, the day before in Kotayk region some strangers picked up the issues of “Zhamanak Yerevan” and “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” of March 26, 2008 from the newspaper stalls. These were the issues that published reports on the situation in Hrazdan.

OPEN ADDRESS TO “HAYLUR” NEWSCAST

On March 25 several Armenian newspapers published an open letter signed “Group of students of the Journalism Department of Yerevan State University” and addressed to “Haylur” newscast of the First Channel of the Public Television of Armenia. "What you are doing today - hiding the true information and presenting biased news, beneficial to the authorities - is beyond our understanding of the mission of journalist, journalistic ethics and morals. The reality has made you face an important dilemma: to present impartial, two-sided information, purging it from ordered, fake scenes, or to finally and irreversibly lose faith and trust of people not only towards you but also to journalistic profession as such, which we are witnessing today”, the letter says, in particular.

AFTER LIFT OF EMERGENCY RULE MEDIA RESUMED PUBLICATION

Since March 21 the publication of “Aravot”, “Haikakan Zhamanak”, “Zhamanak-Yerevan”, “Hayk”, “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun”, “Taregir”, “Hraparak” newspapers resumed and news portals were unblocked. As it has been reported, the work of a number of media was suspended on March 1, after the introduction of 20-day emergency rule in Yerevan (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, March 14-20, 2008).

TAX AUDIT EXPECTED AT NEWSPAPERS

On March 24 “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” opposition newspaper received a notification from the RA State Tax Service regarding the conductance of an audit starting March 28. According to the Chief Editor of “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” Shogher Matevosian, the true purpose of the audit will be revealed in a while, yet it is quite probable that “the authorities are looking for ways to shut down the newspaper”. Meanwhile, since March 25 “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun”, published twice a week, apart from its Saturday supplement “Kiraknamut”, has started to publish two more, “CI-Emergency” on Tuesdays and “CI-Situation” (on Thursdays).

Notifications about tax audits were also received by a number of other newspapers, in particular, “Aravot”, “Zhamanak-Yerevan”, “Haikakan Zhamanak” as well as “Gind” publishing house.

75TH ANNIVERSARY OF “KRTUTIUN” NEWSPAPER

“Krtutiun” weekly is celebrating 75th anniversary since its foundation day.

Yerevan Press Club congratulates the newspaper, wishes it further success and prosperity.