Seven journalistic public organizations have disseminated a statement condemning the attack on A1+ correspondent Marine Khachatryan by Karen Hayrapetyan, Head of the Parliament's Security Service, while she was performing her professional responsibilities.
The organizations call for the National Assembly leadership to brought the security head responsible for creating obstacles to the professional activity of journalists and anticipate the Prosecutor's Office to take their statement as a report about a crime.
The following organizations signed the statement: Committee for Protection of Freedom of Speech, Yerevan Press Club, Center of Media Initiatives, Asbarez Journalists' Club, Institute of Versatile Information, Journalists for Future, and A1+ TV Company.
To recall, the incident happened in front of the Armenian National Assembly building, Tuesday. Art Group "Counterblow" hanged a big banner reading "Hello Rob!" [second president Robert Kocharyan - editor's note] on the Gates of the NA front yard.
Head of the Parliament's Security Service Karen Hayrapetyan did not like the banner and, probably, decided to protect the dignity of the ex-president. So he threw the banner away and then approached the female journalist from A1Plus Marina Khachatryan, hit her and dropped her iPad.