Affiliated media: Center for Media Initiatives, Journalistic organization

Incident date: July 19, 2021

Attack type:

• Court trial

Who attacked: Non-authorities

Source: Judicial Information System (datalex.am)

Location: Armenia, Yerevan

Additional information:

Hraparak Daily Newspaper LLC filed a lawsuit with the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction against the public journalistic organization Center for Media Initiatives, demanding refutation of information considered libel and compensation for damage. The reason for the lawsuit was the project implemented by the Center, within which experts identify fake news, disinformation, and manipulations in media publications, after which Facebook and Instagram block access to these materials. The newspaper's editorial board considers this censorship and pressure on the media. Independent media experts say the project could help clean up the information environment. The lawsuit was accepted for consideration on July 28; the first court hearing date has not yet been set.