The statement of Artsakh NGOs regarding the incident of violence against the journalist

Statement of Artsakh non-governmental organizations regarding the incident of violence against a journalist.

On July 8 and 9, Civilnet journalist Hayk Ghazaryan covered the protest in front of the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Artsakh. The protestors gathered to express their complaint that the lawyers are not allowed to visit their protected detainee Arman Israelyan.
When a commotion broke out between the police and the protesters, which Hayk Ghazaryan was filming on his phone, the police officer illegally took away the latter's mobile phone, hindering the journalist's professional activities. Hayk Ghazaryan asked the police officer to present himself, but he did not and left without returning the phone. Later, the phone was returned to Hayk Ghazaryan through the mediation of the Human Rights defender, but the video recording was deleted.
Then, on July 11, a group of people in civilian clothes attacked Hayk Ghazaryan on the way home, dragged him, hit him on the face and body.
Non-governmental organizations of Artsakh consider the violation of freedom of speech, obstructing the journalist's professional activities and the violence against the journalist as unacceptable, demanding the law enforcement agencies to take all actions to reveal the details of the case, find out the identity of the persons who committed the alleged crime and bring them to justice.
In this difficult period for Artsakh, we consider the more responsible and balanced way of working of law enforcement agencies to be important. When a number of fundamental rights of Artsakh Armenians are violated by Azerbaijan every day, the authorities of Artsakh are obliged to be vigilant and not allow additional violations of human rights within the state.

“Civic Hub” NGO
"Stepanakert Press Club" NGO
"Krunk" NGO for the protection of the rights of Artsakh Armenians
"Return to Dizak" NGO
"Return to Karvachar" NGO
"Education for the Future" NGO
"Deoccupation of Shushi" NGO
"Vector" NGO
"Center for Support of Artsakh Mothers" NGO
"Anel" NGO