RA Human Rights Defender`s Office responds to video footage of  harassment of French- Armenian journalist

ArmInfo. The RA Human Rights Defender's Office responded to video footage of the harassment of  French-Armenian journalist Leo Nicolian, who has been on a hunger strike at Zvartnots airport for more than a month. He was banned from entering Armenia.

On the evening of May 23, footage of the incident between Nicolian  and employees of the Yerevan airport was circulated on the World Wide  Web. The citizens who filmed the video claim that airport employees  provoked Leo Nicolian, trying to create the possibility of his  deportation from the country.

In a statement, the office of the Ombudsman of Armenia notes in this  regard that immediately after the publication of the video of the  incident between airport employees and journalist Leo Nicolian, at  the direction of the Human Rights Defender, the necessary measures  are taken.

"The issue is under the direct attention of the Defender, and  appropriate clarifications have been requested from the competent  government authorities.

We consider it necessary to emphasize that, on the instructions of  the Ombudsman Anahit Manasyan, representatives of the Human Rights  Office regularly visit Zvartnots airport to meet with Leo Nicolian  and find out about his state of health. The last visit took place on  May 21," stated the office of the Human Rights Commission of Armenia.

On April 22, French journalist of Armenian origin Leo Nicolian was  not allowed to enter the Republic of Armenia. However, the reasons  were not officially explained to him.   After this he went on a  hunger strike.  Nicolian is in the neutral zone of Zvartnots airport,  demanding clarification regarding the grounds for banning his entry  into the Republic of Armenia. At the same time, the journalist has  suspicions that this may be related to the coverage of the Voskepar  topic.