Armenia`s human rights defender condemns police violence against  journalist 

ArmInfo.Armenian Ombudsman Anahit Manasyan strongly condemns the obstruction of professional  activities by law enforcement officers, as well as violence against journalist Meri Manukyan, and emphasizes that journalists must be guaranteed proper conditions for carrying out their professional activities. This is stated in a statement released by the Human Rights Defender's Office (HRO).

The statement notes that as a result of monitoring by the HRO office  staff, a case of obvious obstruction of the professional activities  of journalist Meri Manukyan by a police officer and the use of  violence against her was recorded.

"Manasyan strongly condemns such behavior by the police officer,  violence against the journalist, and emphasizes that journalists must  be guaranteed proper conditions for carrying out their professional  activities. The Ombudsman demands that the competent authorities  conduct a proper investigation into this case," the statement  emphasizes.

It is also noted that, on the instructions of the Human Rights  Defender, a rapid response team of employees left on June 16 for the  Ashtarak department of the Aragatsotn regional police department of  the RA Ministry of Internal Affairs in the context of the case of  detention of citizens during the protest in Kasakh.

"Private conversations will be held with the detainees, the grounds  for their detention and the state of ensuring their rights, as well  as the documents drawn up by the Police on this fact will be studied.  Issues related to the rights of the protest participants and the  professional activities of the journalist. In case of obvious  obstruction of the activities, the Ombudsman will request  clarification from the competent state bodies," the office of the  Ombudsman of Armenia concluded.

Earlier, residents of the Kasakh community of the Kotayk region of  Armenia blocked the Ashtarak- Yerevan highway, demanding that the  previous route of bus number 59 be restored and the previously  established fare be maintained. The police used gross  disproportionate force against peaceful demonstrators who blocked the  road. Moreover, when the journalist asked why force was being used  against citizens exercising their right to peaceful protests, a  special forces officer hit her in the stomach. Also, according to the  Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs, 11 people, including minors,  were detained "for failure to comply with the lawful demands" of  police officers.