Armenia: Yerevan Authorities Obstruct Nagorno-Karabakh Documentary Project
March 11, 2011 - 2:53pm, by Justin Burke
Tamada Tales Armenia Armenia Diaspora European Union Nagorno-Karabakh
Armenian authorities denied entry on March 10 to a European Union-based television documentary crew that is taking an independent look at the Nagorno-Karabkah conflict.
Foreigners routinely obtain visas at Yerevan airport, provided they have appropriate support paperwork. The four-member television crew -- comprising a Lithuanian, Finn and two Estonians – all had valid documentation needed to obtain a visa. Yet, according to an executive producer of the project, Andrius Brokas, border officials denied the crew entry.
A representative of the Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the crew had been barred from entering the country, citing technical reasons. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not grant visas inside the country upon arrival," the ministry representative claimed. "In addition, they did not address us for accreditation according to the set procedure."
Speaking by phone from Helsinki, Finland, Brokas said the documentary crew, is working on the documentary for broadcast by the Finnish National Broadcasting Company YLE. The group had coordinated the project with a local Armenian partner, AZD, a Yerevan-based production company. AZD representatives had assured Brokas that all necessary permissions had been obtained for four days of filming in Karabakh and three in Yerevan.
The television crew may have encountered problems at Yerevan airport because former president and current opposition leader, Levon Ter-Petrosian, was among the individuals lined up for interviews. The documentary project also has conducted its own investigation into the Khojaly tragedy of 1992. Azerbaijani officials assert that Armenian forces slaughtered hundreds of Azerbaijani civilians in the incident.
The television crew spent the night at the airport, Brokas said. The Yerevan-based ambassador of Lithuania, which currently holds the chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, reached out to Armenian officials in an attempt to resolve the issue.
March 11, 2011 - 2:53pm, by Justin Burke
Tamada Tales Armenia Armenia Diaspora European Union Nagorno-Karabakh
Armenian authorities denied entry on March 10 to a European Union-based television documentary crew that is taking an independent look at the Nagorno-Karabkah conflict.
Foreigners routinely obtain visas at Yerevan airport, provided they have appropriate support paperwork. The four-member television crew -- comprising a Lithuanian, Finn and two Estonians – all had valid documentation needed to obtain a visa. Yet, according to an executive producer of the project, Andrius Brokas, border officials denied the crew entry.
A representative of the Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the crew had been barred from entering the country, citing technical reasons. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not grant visas inside the country upon arrival," the ministry representative claimed. "In addition, they did not address us for accreditation according to the set procedure."
Speaking by phone from Helsinki, Finland, Brokas said the documentary crew, is working on the documentary for broadcast by the Finnish National Broadcasting Company YLE. The group had coordinated the project with a local Armenian partner, AZD, a Yerevan-based production company. AZD representatives had assured Brokas that all necessary permissions had been obtained for four days of filming in Karabakh and three in Yerevan.
The television crew may have encountered problems at Yerevan airport because former president and current opposition leader, Levon Ter-Petrosian, was among the individuals lined up for interviews. The documentary project also has conducted its own investigation into the Khojaly tragedy of 1992. Azerbaijani officials assert that Armenian forces slaughtered hundreds of Azerbaijani civilians in the incident.
The television crew spent the night at the airport, Brokas said. The Yerevan-based ambassador of Lithuania, which currently holds the chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, reached out to Armenian officials in an attempt to resolve the issue.
Finnish TV Team Barred From Entering Armenia
Finland -- The Helsinki headquarters of YLE public television and radio.
11.03.2011
Tigran Avetisian
A group of journalists and film-makers working for Finnish television was held up at Yerevan airport and denied entry into Armenia on Friday for reasons that the Armenian authorities refused to publicize.
Andrius Brokas, an executive producer at Finland’s YLE public television and radio network, said immigration officials at the Zvartnots international airport refused to issue visas to the four-member TV crew without any explanation.
“Somebody whispered to them that they have been banned from entering the country and that they are going to clarify the situation,” Brokas told RFE/RL’s Armenian service from Helsinki.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed the information but did not give any reasons for the ban. Its spokesman, Tigran Balayan, argued that the ministry’s consular services issue visas only outside Armenia.
The Armenian police and National Security Service (NSS), which manages the Armenian border crossings, also refused to explain why the Finnish, Lithuanian and Estonian nationals were denied entry into the country. It was not clear if they were still kept at Zvartnots or deported as of late evening.
Brokas told RFE/RL that they flew to Yerevan to produce a report on Armenia for a YLE morning show.
But in a separate written statement , Brokas said the group was commissioned by YLE to collect material for a documentary on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and, in particular, the 1992 killings of Azerbaijani civilians in Khojaly village. He condemned the visa rejection as “an open defiance of European values of open access to information.”
Finland -- The Helsinki headquarters of YLE public television and radio.
11.03.2011
Tigran Avetisian
A group of journalists and film-makers working for Finnish television was held up at Yerevan airport and denied entry into Armenia on Friday for reasons that the Armenian authorities refused to publicize.
Andrius Brokas, an executive producer at Finland’s YLE public television and radio network, said immigration officials at the Zvartnots international airport refused to issue visas to the four-member TV crew without any explanation.
“Somebody whispered to them that they have been banned from entering the country and that they are going to clarify the situation,” Brokas told RFE/RL’s Armenian service from Helsinki.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed the information but did not give any reasons for the ban. Its spokesman, Tigran Balayan, argued that the ministry’s consular services issue visas only outside Armenia.
The Armenian police and National Security Service (NSS), which manages the Armenian border crossings, also refused to explain why the Finnish, Lithuanian and Estonian nationals were denied entry into the country. It was not clear if they were still kept at Zvartnots or deported as of late evening.
Brokas told RFE/RL that they flew to Yerevan to produce a report on Armenia for a YLE morning show.
But in a separate written statement , Brokas said the group was commissioned by YLE to collect material for a documentary on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and, in particular, the 1992 killings of Azerbaijani civilians in Khojaly village. He condemned the visa rejection as “an open defiance of European values of open access to information.”
EurasiaNet, RadioFreeLiberty, ArmeniaNow, all linked together. xxxxers, they could post ten articles a day about Azerbaijan not letting journalists in for research, but of course they don't. Hypocrites.
Even by looking at media, we see that Russian media is much, much more unbiased and treats us fair. I recommend everyone to watch RT (Russia Today). I can even state their media is pro-Armenian. Long live Russia, the main reason (together with our fedayees) why Armenia exists today!
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