A statement of Yerevan Press-club

Yerevan Press-club shares indignation of the Armenian non-governmental organizations who on October, 23, issued an appeal in connection with one more refusal to provide a hall for demonstration of “Parada” film. We estimate the obstacles put before this kind of public actions as a gross violation of the right of freedom of expression.

Hardly had a year passed since we were pleased to see that the practice of politically motivated refusals of providing premises stopped when the Armenian community encountered a new shameful fact: artificial limitations for spread of information on the problems of diversity and personal freedom.

20 years after gaining independence and declaring the democratic choice of the development of the country the Armenian state turns out unable to secure its citizens’ protection from manifestations of intolerance and xenophobia. There is no other explanation for “timidity” of the administration of the halls who cancel the shows. In this connection one cannot help mentioning inaction of law enforcement bodies concerning aggression against Giumri journalist’s club “Asparez” and Vanadzor office of Helsinki Civil Assembly who in April of 2012 provided their halls for shows of ”unwanted” films.  

It is inadmissible for a government wishing to follow the European standards of state and public life systems to indulge persons and groups who misappropriate the right to prohibit, threaten, use violence and impose their concepts of what is good and what is bad on other people.

October, 24, 2012