Today “Hraparak” newspaper reporter Gayane Babayan got hit by Hyundai (06 ОО 147) on David Anhakht street at around 9:50 p.m. Yerevan time.
After crash the driver — Vahan Yeghiazaryan took her to the hospital, but she died on the way, photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan informed NEWS.am.
Policemen, including the Chief of Yerevan Road Police Arsen Arshakyan have arrived at the scene. Inspection of the accident scene is carried out.
Source: News.am
Yerevaan, 2 February 2010, OSCE Press Release – The winners of an annual competition for journalists reporting on women’s accomplishments in Armenia’s political, economic and social life were announced today. The second annual Na/Ne (S/HE) contest was co-organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan as part of its activities to increase the role of women in Armenia’s public and economic life, and the British Council, as part of its Wo/Men in Politics project funded by the British Embassy in Yerevan.
Some 70 media outlets took part in the contest. An jury composed of representatives from the media industry and gender organizations selected winners in a range of categories, including best TV, radio, print and online entries, as well as the best blog posts and the best advertisements. “A key challenge in Armenia is that the skills and talents of women are not fully utilized. It is thus very important that the media raises awareness of the roles that women can play in public and economic life to help move Armenia forward,” said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, the Head of the OSCE office in Yerevan.
A moment ago, the verdict against oppositional Haykakan Zhamanak daily chief editor Nikol Pashinyan was delivered in the Nork-Marash district court. He was accused of organization of mass riots and use of force against policeman. Pashinyan was acquitted by the court under RA Criminal Code article 316 (use of force against authority), however he was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment under the 255 article (organization of mass riots). The defense repeatedly stated that prosecution failed to provide any proof of Pashinyan’s guilt. After March 1, 2008 events he went underground, afterwards yielding himself to authorities on July 1, 2009.
A new website has been launched in Armenian web world to serve as a resource center for amateur film makers and young directors, movie and cinematography fans, as well as for general audience. The first Film Portal in Armenia will provide information on Armenian cinematography, regularly updated news about local and international movie industry, news about actors, interesting facts from their lives, etc.
The founder of www.cinematic.am is Vahan Gasparyan, student of directing department of Yerevan State Pedagogical University. According to him, the website will enable young directors an opportunity to demonstrate their works and receive professional feedback from more experienced colleagues and general audience for further improvements. As a young director Gasparyan is familiar with the difficulties that a young director could encounter.
Read More »Cinema Through Web: A new Platform for Armenian Young Directors
The United States Embassy in Yerevan marked International Human Rights Day by presenting the Armenian Freedom Defender award to Edik Baghdassaryan at a reception given by Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch at the Embassy. Baghdasarian is the founder of the Association of Investigative Journalists and the popular HETQ news agency.
In the words of Ambassador Yovanovitch, Baghdassaryan “has shown great courage in tackling and writing about some of the sensitive and challenging issues facing Armenians as they move their country toward greater democratization. His daunting work has exposed cases of corruption, human rights abuses, illegal business practices, and the indignities of human trafficking.” This is the second year that the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan has presented the Armenian Freedom Defender award. Last year’s winner was Mikael Danielyan, Chairman of the Helsinki Association of Armenia.
Source: US Embassy News http://armenia.usembassy.gov
Read More »The United States Embassy in Yerevan Marked International Human Rights Day
1. Certificate Issued: Pashinyan Runs for MP
On November 19, the Administrative Court of Armenia satisfied the claim of the chief editor of “Haykakan Zhamanak” newspaper, the opposition representative Nikol Pashinyan. As Lragir.am informs, the court obligated the Police of Armenia to provide the plaintiff a certificate of permanent residence in Armenia over the past five years. Documents on Pashinyan’s nomination as MP candidate were presented to the district election commission 10 of Yerevan on October 30.
Due to lack of a certificate from the police, the documents were deemed incomplete. After receiving the certificate, Pashinyan’s representatives submitted all documents to the district election commission on November 23. 34-year-old Pashinyan was wanted a year and four months, and voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement agencies of Armenia on 1 July this year. Currently Pashinyan’s case is under investigation. Elections in the constituency 10 are scheduled to be held on January 10, 2010.
2. Concerns on the Future
Screening of American documentaries is being held till the end of November in Yerevan. This program is part of an international tour organized by the U.S. State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. As a result of a thorough selection 29 documentaries produced between 2004 and 2008 have been selected out of 300 films. They are devoted to the issues of democracy, ecology, migration, health, ethnic diversity, innovation, education and family.
As stated in the speech of the US Ambassador to Armenia Mary Jovanovich the film show will promote deepening of mutual understanding and relations between two countries with rich tradition in the field of cinematography. According to the assistant of Public Relations Department of the US Embassy Susan Brendson the US Embassy has been organizing cultural programs for already 10 years in Armenia, however earlier they applied just to the music and choreography.
Read More »American Documentary Showcase Launched in Yerevan
1. “Fourth Sovereignty” (Chorrord Inqnishkhanutyun) Issued Instead of “Fourth Estate” (Chorrord Ishkhanutyun)
The opposition newspaper “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” (Fourth Estate) has stopped being published since November 10. But instead of the former newspaper the editorial office started publishing a newspaper called “Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” (Fourth Sovereignty). As А1Plus.am reports the day before four bailiffs from the Service for Compulsory Enforcement of Judicial Acts of the RA Justice Ministry visited the “CI” editorial office and handed the decisions of the SCEJA on prohibition of the newspaper publication.
According to the writ of execution (06.11.2009) of the Common Jurisdiction Court of First Instance of the Kentron and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan the daily “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” has been banned both by the official publisher of “Koghmnaki andzants M” LTD (“Unauthorized persons not admitted” LTD) and by any other organization or printing-house.
1. Armenia the 111th According to Press Freedom Index
The organization Reporters Without Borders has issued another report according to the Press Freedom Index. So in the top five out of 175 countries were Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway and Sweden. Reporters Without Borders compiles the Press Freedom Index every year on the basis of questionnaires that are completed by hundreds of journalists and media experts around the world. This year Press Freedom Index 2009 reflects press freedom violations that took place between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009. The Press Freedom Index is not promising in the South Caucasus countries. Georgia ranks the 81st place, Armenia – 111th and Azerbaijan occupies the 146th place.
1. Armenia the 111th According to Press Freedom Index
The organization Reporters Without Borders has issued another report according to the Press Freedom Index. So in the top five out of 175 countries were Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway and Sweden. Reporters Without Borders compiles the Press Freedom Index every year on the basis of questionnaires that are completed by hundreds of journalists and media experts around the world.
This year Press Freedom Index 2009 reflects press freedom violations that took place between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009. The Press Freedom Index is not promising in the South Caucasus countries. Georgia ranks the 81st place, Armenia – 111th and Azerbaijan occupies the 146th place. This year, the European countries significantly changed their positions, though the first thirteen places in the list are occupied by mostly the European countries, other countries such as France (43), Slovakia (44), Italy (49) have gone down much lower than it was last year, losing the 8th, 37th and 5th places respectively.