The head of Armenia's Union of Journalists, Satik Seyranyan, said that the incumbent authorities are targeting media and journalists as they have divided the media environment in the country into an "ours and theirs" partition.
"The authorities are targeting media outlets and freedom of speech without any scruples," said Seyranyan, editor-in-chief of pro-opposition 168 Zham newspaper, while addressing a conference on media restrictions in Yerevan on 1 September.
She added that several platforms are experiencing an "exceptionally cynical" campaign against the media. "An attempt is [being] made to significantly restrict the work of reporters through legislative amendments, and the situation in the National Assembly is a vivid manifestation of it. The authorities impose restrictions, and then they initiate relevant discussions with media representatives to leave an impression of being tolerant and lenient towards the media," she said.
Stressing that hostility towards media is generated on public platforms and in society, Satik Seyranyan stated: "It seems that the media and free speech may soon be qualified as enemies that prevent the authorities from exercising their beloved steel mandate."
On 4 August, dozens of Armenian journalists and human rights organisations condemned restrictions on reporters' freedom of movement inside the parliament building in Yerevan. The constraints were imposed at the start of the inaugural session of Armenia's new parliament on 2 August.
Armenian authorities have deployed scores of uniformed State Protection Service officers based on the new regulations that seriously restrict journalists' movement in the building. Journalists accredited to the National Assembly (parliament) can no longer interview MPs exiting the parliament's sessions hall or approach MPs' offices.
"The restriction of journalists' freedom of movement is yet another manifestation of [the current authorities'] fear, impotence and weakness," said Aghvan Vartanyan, an opposition parliamentarian from the Armenia bloc.
Following the move, Seyranyan urged journalists to unite and not compromise with the authorities that would endanger the rights and freedoms of journalists. "Otherwise, things will get worse," she warned.
