YEREVAN. – Five cases of violation and freedom of speech curtailing against news reporters were recorded during Armenia’s National Assembly elections held on May 6, 168 Zham daily writes.   

“One of them was received through the hotline of the Committee for the Protection of the Freedom of Speech. They had called in from Hetq [website] [informing] that their reporter was not allowed entry into a constituency in order to be present at the counting of the votes. But the problem was resolved shortly thereafter, since the journalists have a right to follow the vote counting. 

An incident occurred in Gyumri [City] a day before the elections. Gala television’s camera crew was not allowed entry into a constituency and the providing of information was refused.  

And on May 6, and again in Gyumri, violence was committed against the cameraman of Kentron television.   

On the same day, the [mobile] phone of Aravot [daily’s] reporter was broken, but a criminal case was opened solely in regard to the violation committed against the reporter of RFE/RL Radio,” 168 Zham writes.