Elina Chilingaryan, a correspondent with RFE/RL's Armenian Service, Radio Azatutyun, was attacked while filming election day activities outside a polling station in Yerevan on May 6.
Chilingaryan was videotaping the arrival of a busload of people to a polling place in the capital city's southern Erebuni district when a young man approached her and asked if she was filming him. He tried to seize her camera, repeatedly hitting Chilingaryan on the hand, before knocking it to the ground. Chilingaryan captured the incident on film.
Chilingaryan told RFE/RL that the man, who was joined at one point by another person, clearly meant to intimidate her and prevent her from reporting. She was not injured.
Chilingaryan filed a police complaint and gave testimony shortly after the incident. The police launched an investigation and reportedly have identified the attacker.
The case has been filed under a section in the penal code on obstruction to a journalist's professional activities, a conviction for which carries a minimum fine and a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
Armenia held national legislative elections on May 6.
Chilingaryan was videotaping the arrival of a busload of people to a polling place in the capital city's southern Erebuni district when a young man approached her and asked if she was filming him. He tried to seize her camera, repeatedly hitting Chilingaryan on the hand, before knocking it to the ground. Chilingaryan captured the incident on film.
Chilingaryan told RFE/RL that the man, who was joined at one point by another person, clearly meant to intimidate her and prevent her from reporting. She was not injured.
Chilingaryan filed a police complaint and gave testimony shortly after the incident. The police launched an investigation and reportedly have identified the attacker.
The case has been filed under a section in the penal code on obstruction to a journalist's professional activities, a conviction for which carries a minimum fine and a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
Armenia held national legislative elections on May 6.