Armenia: The State of Emergency Text
A1Plus has posted the text (in Armenian) of president Robert Kocharyan’s order declaring 20 days of state of emergency in Armenia amid growing police violence against protesters who challenge the results of the presidential elections.
The 20-day state of emergency temporarily bans the following:
- Gatherings, protests, marches and other mass activities
- Strikes and activism leading to strikes
- Activities by those political parties and NGOs that have led to the state of emergency order
The order also states:
- Enforcement agencies, if necessary, may limit transportation routes and search individuals
- Media reports concerning “state and interior issues” can be published exclusively using official information provided by the authorities (does this apply to blogs based in Armenia?)
- [Distribution] of all kinds of political publications (print) are banned unless approved by the authorities
4 Responses to “Armenia: The State of Emergency Text”
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Onnik Krikorian on 02 Mar 2008 at 12:20 am #
I raised the issue of blogs earlier on this evening with Ditord at The Armenian Observer and we don’t know. Legally, we’re not media or NGOs when we blog — we’re just people expressing our opinions. However, there is some possibility that we might have to limit our reporting, I don’t know.
I would imagine that A1 Plus and possibly Hetq Online as well other pro-opposition outlets will be raided and their computers confiscated if they don’t comply, however. Actually, it has nothing to do with compliance. It would seem logical that the authorities would want to restrict their reporting immediately.
To be honest, I’m surprised A1 Plus hasn’t been raided already and I can’t see them complying with the state of emergency.
Onnik Krikorian on 02 Mar 2008 at 12:22 am #
Hmmm, this doesn’t sound good. I wonder what and who determines what “political” is?
I think I can forsee myself working only through Internews from now on, but posting links from my blog, but I don’t know.
Let’s see.
Blogian on 02 Mar 2008 at 12:39 am #
Hi Onnik, the ban of political publications is a reference to brochures, leaflets and posters and not websites. But websites may fall under the media restictions.
sue on 13 Mar 2008 at 8:43 pm #
are there any new blogs getting through 3/13/08