OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic today said journalists' safety must be ensured at all times, following recent incidents and coercive actions by police against journalists covering public protest in Yerevan, Armenia.
The OSCE press office quotes Mijatovic as saying, "Media has the right to cover public events and journalists must be able to report in a free and safe manner, without fear of harassment and intimidation."
"I call on the authorities to promptly investigate these incidents and take steps to ensure restraint on the part of law enforcement representatives toward members of the media," Mijatovic said.
At 5:30am today, the Police dispersed the sit-down protest in front of the president's residence using special means, mainly water canons.
Around 500 people ran towards the adjacent the Liberty Square and found themselves between the Police on the one side and the water canons on the other side. The Police detained many of the protesters using force. Among the detainees are journalists. The equipment of many media sources was damaged. The detained journalists contacted their news offices from the police stations complaining of violent treatment. Among them there are even injured who have been hospitalized. By different data, 237 people were detained. Part of them was set free later.
The protests ran high in the country after the energy costs were increased by 7 drams. The people demand that the authorities revoke the decision to raise the power rate and revise the existing rate.