PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR JOINS JOURNALIST TO MAKE

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001925 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CACEN, DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL AM SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR JOINS JOURNALIST TO MAKE A STATEMENT AGAINST VIOLENCE REF: YEREVAN 1878 (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The GOAM took the high road in response to a physical attack on an investigative journalist on August 24 (reftel). The alleged attacker was arrested while Armenia's Prosecutor General pressed charges. A senior advisor to President Kocharian joined journalists in a "protest" on August 28 to show support for their independence. End Summary. -------------- THE ATTACK -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On August 24, investigative journalist Mkhitar Kchachatrian was roughed up after he photographed a luxury villa as part of a story on construction in "protected" zones, and Kchachtrian surrendered the photo card from his digital camera. After the attack, Kchackatrian stated that he would not go to the police because he believed authorities would not pursue the case. -------------- ALLEGED ATTACKER DETAINED -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Armenian authorities briefly detained Gagik Stepanian on August 25 in connection with the August 24 attack on investigative journalist Mkhitar Kchachatrian. An official at the Prosecutor General's office confirmed to us that Stepanian turned himself in to authorities, who later released him pending trial on charges of "hooliganism" and interfering with the performance of someone's professional duties. According to press reports, Stepanian is employed as a bodyguard for Levon Sargsyan, a wealthy member of the National Assembly; we cannot confirm these reports. -------------- HIGH-LEVEL SUPPORT FOR JOURNALISTS -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Journalists rallied to support their colleague. In a surprising display of support for journalist freedom, Armenian presidential advisor Bagrat Yesayan accompanied approximately ten journalists August 28 during their tour of the city where the alleged attack took place. During their tour, widely billed as a "protest" for freedom of the press, the journalists took pictures of several luxury estates in the area. There were no confrontations with security or incidences of violence during the "protest." EVANS