Local news agencies and human rights groups have issued a statement following the arrest of Hayk Gevorgyan, a veteran correspondent, columnist and publisher of local daily Haykakan Jamanak (“Armenian Times”).

“We are demanding that the precautionary measure applied to Hayk Gevorgyan be immediately changed, that he be freed and that an impartial, transparent investigation into the incident be ensured. We call on the country’s political leadership to take effective steps aiming to exclude unfounded persecution, accusations and pressure on journalists and news outlets,” reads the joint statement by the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression and the Yerevan Press Club.

“Despite the most likely scenario that this police offensive aims to impede Haykakan Jamanak’s activities and deepen the atmosphere of fear in Armenia’s news media sector, this attack on Haykakan Jamanak will be fruitless: police calculations are again erroneous and as a result, the Republic of Armenia’s international reputation will suffer once again,” reads the statement by the Asparez Journalists’ Club, which also asks to change Gevorgyan’s precautionary measure (detention) and his immediate release.

A statement demanding Gevorgyan’s immediate release was also circulated by the A.D. Sakharov Armenian Human Rights Protection Center NGO. “This is challenge to freedom of expression and a breach in civil society,” reads the statement. 

Hayk Gevorgyan was arrested on Feb. 3. He is charged with RA Criminal Code Article 242 Section 1 (“Breach of traffic rules and operation of means of transportation by the driver of a car or other mechanical means of transportation, which negligently caused grave or medium-gravity damage to human health”) and Article 244 (“Abandoning the site of a road accident by the driver of the means of transportation who breached the traffic rules or rules of operation of the means of transportation”). If found guilty, Gevorgyan might be imprisoned for up to 2 years.

The journalist’s colleagues insist that the real reason for Gevorgyan’s arrest are several articles he published not so favorable to RA Police Chief Vladimir (Vova) Gasparyan. 

According to the law, the court has to decide on Gevorgyan’s precautionary measure within 72 hours. This period expires on Monday, Feb. 6.