Chairman of the Freedom of Speech Protection Committee Ashot Melikyan presented on Tuesday to the reporters the 2012 second quarter report on freedom of speech in Armenia, violation of rights of mass media and journalists.

He said the number of lawsuits against journalists and mass media has reduced in April-June.

“Last year 14 cases have been registered, this year only six,” Melikyan told the reporters.

The second quarter of the year coincided with the election period, demanding attentive survey of the field. The expert said as compared with the previous elections this year the situation was calm but as compared with the first quarter of 2012 the implementation of journalists’ duties became more complicated. “Three cases of violence against journalists were reported during that time. They all were connected with the elections,” he said.

In parallel to it, Melikyan noted that the cases of exerting pressure on mass media and violation of their right to get and spread information have grown in number.