16:04, 9 July 2008

CPJ calls on Armenian authorities to apply early release opportunity to journalist Babadzhanyan

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has made a statement in support of imprisoned journalist Armand Babadzhanyan's petition on early release.

"His 'real' crime was in his critical publications," says Nina Ognyanova, CPJ Programme Coordinator for Europe and Central Asia. "Although he confessed his evasion of military service, the verdict was excessively severe."

"We persistently call the authorities of Armenia to apply early release to Babadzhanyan and allow him to exercise journalism without fear of prosecution, thus repairing the crippled freedom of the press," runs the appeal of the CPJ to the authorities of Armenia.