Tavush for Motherland condemns violence against journalists
ArmInfo. The Tavush for the Motherland movement issued a statement condemning law enforcement
violence against journalists performing their professional duty.
The statement reads, in part: "We strongly condemn the use of brutal
force by police against members of the media covering peaceful acts
of civil disobedience.
We call on the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs to initiate an
official investigation into the use of brute force against 24 News
journalist Maria Manukyan and ABC cameraman Mher Davtyan," the
movement's statement noted.
Since early morning peaceful actions of disobedience have been taking
place throughout Yerevan. Police use brutal, disproportionate force
against peaceful protesters. Dozens of citizens were detained.
Journalists were also targeted. Thus, the distributed video footage
shows how a special forces soldier deliberately pushes cameraman Mher
Davtyan, who at that time was broadcasting live from the protests. He
fell and injured his hand as a result of these actions of the law
enforcement officer. In another episode, a journalist fainted after
a group of Red Berets began pushing her from one side to the other.