Armenian GPO investigates threats to journalist on Azerbaijani border

A criminal case has been initiated on threats to a foreign journalist put forward by Azerbaijani militaries, said Gor Abraamyan, an adviser to the head of the Armenian General Prosecutor's Office (GPO).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the conflict on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is ongoing since mid-May. Armenia claims that since May 13, Azerbaijani militaries have been present in the territory of the Syunik and Gegarkunik Regions. In their turn, Azerbaijani authorities insist that border guards had just changed their deployment, staying within the Lachin and Kelbadjar Districts.

Mr Abraamyan has explained that the incident took place on June 15. The international journalist worked in the Vardenis District of the Gegarkunik Region of Armenia.

"The journalist and his colleague, being about 100 meters away from Azerbaijani servicemen, were doing their job. The servicemen showed aggressive behaviour, loaded their weapons and pointed them at the journalists, threatening to shoot. The international journalist stopped working to avoid unpredictable consequences. According to available data, the journalists' clothes had a press emblem visible to the Azerbaijani Armed Forces; and all the rules of journalistic work were also observed," the "News.am" has quoted Gor Abraamyan as saying today.

The case was initiated under the article of "Obstructing the journalist's legitimate professional activities," the "News-Armenia" has reported.

The organization "Reporters without Borders" has specified that threats were voiced out against journalists from Spain and has condemned the actions of Azerbaijani military servicemen.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 26, 2021 at 07:13 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.