Protests erupted in Armenia against the government’s territorial transfer agreement with Azerbaijan

Location: Armenia, Yerevan, Lori
Date: May 13, 2024

Women Press Freedom condemns the targeted police violence against journalists covering the protests in Armenia against the territorial transfer agreement with Azerbaijan. Among them, Nare Gevorgyan was hit by a police truck, and Ani Nerkararyan was injured when pushed by an officer. Press should be free to cover protests of great public interest without fearing assault, especially from law enforcement. We call for a transparent investigation into officers perpetrating violence against the press. Mistreatment of reporters covering protests must stop.

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At least five journalists were attacked by police against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan following an agreement that resulted in the transfer of territories. 

Demonstrators are angered by the government's decision to cede control of some border villages to Azerbaijan. This decision followed a swift military campaign by Azerbaijan in September, which forced ethnic Armenians in Karabakh to surrender.  Azerbaijan’s control of Karabakh led to the exodus of about 120,000 ethnic Armenians from the region.

In disturbing footage analyzed by Women Press Freedom, two women journalists faced unacceptable violence at the hands of law enforcement officers while covering protests. One incident occurred on May 13, 2024, in the capital, Yerevan, involving Nare Gevorgyan, a journalist affiliated with opposition media outlet Mediahub.am. In a video of the event, Gevorgyan is seen being struck by a police truck while crossing a street. She was unmistakably identifiable as a member of the press, visibly holding a microphone and prominently displaying her press credentials.

Similarly, on April 29, 2024, in the Lori province, Ani Nerkararyan, a journalist with Oragir News, suffered injury when she was forcefully pushed by a police officer during a protest. Uniformed and plainclothes police officers requested the demonstrators to clear the road, but when they refused, the police resorted to using force against them, including journalists covering the event. Reporter Nerkararyan suffered a leg injury after being pushed down, and cameraman Zaven Ohanyan was forced to cease filming.

Other incidents of police violence against journalists:

• Mher Davtyan, a videographer for ABCmedia.am was pushed downstairs by a police officer on May 13, 2024

• Janibek Khachatryan, a cameraman for Newday.am, was violently arrested by masked police officers on April 27, 2024.

• Garik Melkonyan from Aravot.am, phone was destroyed by a police officer on April 23, 2024, to prevent filming.

Law enforcement officers should facilitate, not obstruct, the work of journalists, especially during public demonstrations, where the press's role is vital in documenting and reporting events. Women Press Freedom condemns targeted police violence against journalists during the protests in Armenia; these incidents raise serious concerns about the state of press freedom in the country. Authorities must take immediate and decisive action to investigate these assaults on the press and hold police officers responsible to account. 

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