Armenia / Europe & Central Asia

  

Armenia: Independent journalist interrogated and beaten

Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply disturbed by the brutal beating of an independent Armenian journalist. We call on you to ensure that this attack is investigated, and that its perpetrators are brought to justice.

Read More ›

Attacks on the Press 1999: Armenia

The October murders of Armenian prime minister Vazgen Sarkissian and parliamentary speaker Karen Demirchian, by heavily armed gunmen who raided the Parliament building, shocked the nation and divided local media. While the assassins’ motives remained inscrutable at year’s end, some journalists jumped to the swift and as yet unsubstantiated conclusion that the killings represented an…

Read More ›

Armenia: Opposition editor convicted of libel after running corruption allegations

Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply disturbed by the criminal prosecution of Nikol Pashinian, editor-in-chief of the opposition daily Oragir, as well as by efforts on the part of your government to shut down the paper.

Read More ›

CPJ and the World

Executive Director William A. Orme, Jr., who was interviewed on CNN International, Fox News “In Depth,” MSNBC “Online,” and numerous radio shows about Attacks on the Press in 1997, traveled to California for the April 6 launch of the book at a program at the Freedom Forum in San Francisco. He also addressed the regional conference…

Read More ›

Introduction

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Caucasian republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia have declared their desire to model themselves after Western European societies, with free-market economies and democratic government. But their passage from communism to a new social order has been rife with contradictions. In the current transition period, leaders of both countries…

Read More ›

Appendix II: Attacks on the Press in Armenia, 1996-97

Lragir, newspaper, legal action, March 1, 1996 A Yerevan court suspended the publication of the independent daily Lragir for three months.

Read More ›

Censorship Plagues Press in Armenia, Azerbaijan, CPJ Reports

Washington, D.C., Jan. 15, 1998-The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is calling on the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia today to respect the right to a free press accorded citizens in democracies and to provide guarantees enabling journalists there to work freely and safely, without fear of reprisal.

Read More ›

Introduction

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Caucasian republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia have declared their desire to model themselves after Western European societies, with free – market economies and democratic government. But their passage from communism to a new social order has been rife with contradictions. In the current transition period, leaders of…

Read More ›

Azerbaijan’s Media Navigate a Legal Maze

Editors of Baku’s leading newspapers were thrown into turmoil in early November 1996. The Milli Medjlis had just amended the law on mass media to require licensing in addition to registration with the Ministry of Justice before newspapers could begin, or continue, operating. Fourteen chief editors of newspapers and news agencies gathered in December to…

Read More ›

Key Media Officials in Azerbaijan

Minister of Press and Information: Siruz Khudat ogli Tabrizli, born 1942 in Tabriz, Iran. A writer, poet, former journalist. Holds democratic views but is a strong supporter of President Heidar Aliyev. Member of parliament and a leader of Aliyev’s New Azerbaijan party. Serves as minister under the “List of 18” exception which allows 15 percent…

Read More ›