Armenia - a consolidated authoritarian country

Freedom House issued its annual report where Armenia ranks among the “consolidated authoritarian regimes”

A1+, Yerevan, 01 Jul 2009 - Democracy Suffers Dark Year in Former Communist States in 2008, runs the report Nations in Transit (NIT).

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Azerbaijan: Journalist Gets Two Years of Conditional Imprisonment

IRFS, Baku, 01 Jul 2009 - Today, 1 July, in the Absheron District Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Shemseddin Abbasov, the hearing on the case against “Yeni Musavat” Newspaper columnist and former Editor-in-Chief of “Khalg” Newspaper Mahal Ismayiloglu concluded and a verdict was issued.

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Pushed Picket: Colleagues of Arrested Editor in Armenia Demanding His Release

CJTeam, Yerevan, 28 Jun 2009 - A protest demonstration was organized by about 10 relatives and colleagues of the chief editor Arman Babajanyan of “Zhamanak” daily under arrest in front of the Presidential Residence on June 26, which, however, was interrupted by the police interference.

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OSCE media freedom representative urges Kazakh President to veto new Internet law

Miklos HarasztiOSCE, Vienna, 25 Jun 2009 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, criticised as restrictive today amendments to the country’s communication law, adopted on 24 June by the Kazakh Parliament, and called on President Nursultan Nazarbayev not to promulgate them.

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EU urged to help stop violence against Uzbek dissident writer

Uznews, Tashkent, 19 Jun 2009 – Eight European and Uzbek human rights organisations have asked the EU special envoy for Central Asia to help save the imprisoned dissident writer Yusuf Juma from torture in the Jaslyk prison.

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OSCE media freedom representative calls on Kyrgyzstan to halt wave of violent attacks against journalists

OSCE, Vienna, 16 Jun 2009 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, urged Kyrgyz authorities today to do everything in their power to halt a wave of attacks against journalists which is threatening media pluralism ahead of the presidential election.

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Two News Items: Annual Report of the U.S. Department of State and Statement of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia

CJTeam, Yerevan, 15 Jun 2009 - Recently two documents have been prepared by the U.S. Government referring also to the Armenian media: the U.S. Department of State Annual Report on the world democratic processes published in May and the Statement on May 31Municipal Elections in Yerevan appeared last week on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.

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Azerbaijan: Appeal of the Civil Society Defense Committee

IRFS, Baku, 12 Jun 2009 - To Azerbaijani society, Azerbaijan Republic Milli Mejlis, Azerbaijan Republic President, Council of Europe and international organizations

On 9 June 2009 the in the Milli Mejlis Committee on Legal Policy and State Service a bill including a number of changes and additions to legislation related to the activities of civil society was approved.

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Armenia: The Verdict Reached: Haykakan Zhamanak to Pay 10 000 Dollar Penalties

CJTeam, Yerevan, 07 Jun 2009 - On June 5 the Court of First Instance of Kentron and Nork-Marash Communities of Yerevan chaired by Judge Arayik Melkumyan partially satisfied Levon Kocharyan’s suit (younger son of RA former President Robert Kocharyan) against Haykakan Zhamanak daily (HZH).

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CJTeam Statement Regarding Violence against Journalists in Armenia

CJTeam, Yerevan, 05 Jun 2009 - “Journalists’ Team for Sustainable Future” NGO (CJTeam) expresses its concern about the recently increased debates over the journalists’ non professional behavior among the society and the efforts to circulate the draft law restricting freedom of the media.

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Uzbekistan announces media grants

Uznews, Tashkent, 01 Jun 2009 – The Uzbek government has announced a competition to award media grants worth a maximum of €3,400 each after failing to agree to an EU-sponsored media project worth over €1m.

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Against Media? Armenian Media Digest, May 18-24

CJTeam, Tbilisi, 25 May 2009 - 1. Property of Hraparak Newspaper under Arrest; 2. Kocharyan-Haykakan Zhamanak Trial Continued; 3. The Claim against Pakagic Daily Satisfied

1. Property of Hraparak Newspaper under Arrest

Last week the property belonging to “Hraparak Oratert” LLC, publisher of Hraparak newspaper, was put under arrest by the employees of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia.

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Azerbaijan: Staff of State Fund to Assist in Development of Mass Media

IRFS, Baku, 25 May 2009 - President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree to appoint executive director for State Fund to Assist in Development of Mass Media. Safarli Vugar Muzaffar oglu was appointed the executive director of the Fund, according to APA.

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Georgia: Organizational and Staff Changes in the Professional Union of Regional Television Companies

Media.ge, Tbilisi, 22 May 2009 - On May 20-21 professional union of regional television companies - the “Association of Georgian Regional Television Broadcasters” held a two-day joint session, where amending the regulation, as well as reorganizing structure of the association was decided. Television broadcasters also elected new board and its chairman.

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