Nane Hayrapetian and Nare Gevorgyan hurt while covering protests demanding resignation of Prime Minister

Location: Armenia, Yereva
Date: June 12, 2024

At least 10 journalists were injured in police clashes with anti-government protestors. As violence erupted, journalists Nane Hayrapetian and Nare Gevorgyan were both trampled and injured by police officers while reporting on the unrest. In recent months, Women Press Freedom has documented several incidents involving police aggression toward the press covering similar ultra-nationalist protests nationwide. We strongly condemn the police's brutal force against journalists, which was evident from numerous videos and photographs showing stun grenades deliberately targeted at media personnel. It is unacceptable that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his allies defended these actions without a thorough investigation. We demand that the Interior Ministry launch an immediate inquiry and hold the officers who abused their powers accountable.

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On June 12, 2024, violent clashes erupted in front of Yerevan’s Parliament as ultra-nationalist protesters demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. As Pashinyan prepared to address Parliament, the tension escalated. Protesters attempted to storm the Parliament building and breach police barricades, throwing rocks and bottles at the police. In response, security forces deployed stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

The clashes resulted in injuries to at least 10 journalists and camera operators who were on the scene to cover the protests. Among the injured were ABC’s Nane Hayrapetian and her cameraman Arman Gharibyan.

“Ignoring the fact that I had a ‘press’ inscription on my shirt and ABC written on my back and my cameraman carried a badge and a camera, the police literally trampled us underfoot,” recounts Hayrapetian. Both Hayrapetian and Gharibyan are suspected to have suffered concussions.

MediaHub.am journalist Nare Gevorgyan sustained an abdominal contusion during a clash at the Baghramyan-Demirchyan intersection. The confrontation began when the protest's leader, the Archbishop and opposition leader Bagrat Galstanyan — whose main slogan is “Armenian, Armenia, Homeland, God,” demanded officers open the police wall so he could attend a National Assembly session. During the ensuing chaos, journalists were crushed, and Gevorgyan was injured when a cameraman's tripod pressed against her stomach. Struggling to breathe, she was rescued by a bystander.

“I couldn’t catch my breath at some point, possibly after about five or six minutes. A man rescued me when I was semi-conscious and carried me to Baghramyan,” the reporter recalls.

“My stomach was in terrible pain. People around me tried to help by pouring water on my head and neck to wake me up.”

Gevorgyan was taken to Nair's medical center, where a CT scan revealed a concussion.

A second crew from ABC, including journalist Aghvan Asoyan and camera operator Edik Malakyan, also sustained injuries from the stun grenades. Vazgen Yetumian, a camera operator with News.am, suffered a broken leg. Additional injuries were reported by Narek Hayrian of Civilnet and Hovsep Hovsepian of Armlur.am.

Nine Armenian press freedom groups condemned the police's use of force against journalists during the clashes, they believe that police stun grenades were deliberately targeted at media workers. They criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his allies for defending the police actions without proper investigation and demanded the Interior Ministry launch a probe into the officers involved. Despite these demands, no inquiry has been announced.

These injuries follow a disturbing pattern of police violence against journalists in Armenia. In recent months, members of the media have repeatedly faced assault and injury while covering the ultra-nationalist demonstrations. On May 13, 2024, journalist Nare Gevorgyan was hit by a police truck during a protest in Yerevan. Earlier, on April 29, 2024, Ani Nerkararyan was injured after being pushed by a police officer in Lori province.

Bagrat Galstanian, a senior church official from the Tavush region, initiated the recent protests. Initially a supporter of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Galstanian's stance shifted dramatically as the government began diminishing the church's influence, marking a turning point in his relationship with Pashinian's administration. The Archbishop has skillfully capitalized on public discontent in Armenia: his nationalist rhetoric and religious symbolism resonate with those angry over the Armenian government’s decision to cede border villages to Azerbaijan. This decision followed a military campaign in September 2023 that compelled ethnic Armenians to surrender in Karabakh, heightening tensions and leading to the current unrest. In the latest unrest, over 100 people were injured and 70 were detained by police. 

Women Press Freedom calls for immediate action in response to the alarming events of June 12, 2024. The targeted police aggression towards media workers, despite clear identification as press members, signals a troubling disregard for the safety and rights of journalists. Failure to address these violations not only jeopardizes individual journalists but also threatens the broader democratic principles of transparency and accountability in Armenia. We urgently call on the Armenian government to implement robust measures to protect journalists, ensure thorough investigations of police actions, and hold those responsible accountable.

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