Coordinated Threats Against Two Women Journalists After Questioning Prime Minister
Pro-government activists and media outlets target journalists Ani Gevorgyan and Hripsime Jebejyan.
Location: Armenia, Yerevan
Date: July 25, 2023
After questioning the Prime Minister at a press conference, journalists Ani Gevorgyan and Hripsime Jebejyan faced a slew of threats and harassment. The online attacks appear to be propagated by pro-government activists and are coordinated and premeditated rather than random or spontaneous. The Coalition For Women In Journalism has documented 10 similar trolling campaigns targeting women journalists so far in 2023. We condemn these attempts to intimidate reporters and demand the Prime Minister and state officials condemn the attacks.
On July 25, a press conference by Nikol Pashinyan, the Armenian Prime Minister, sparked controversy and led to online attacks on journalists Ani Gevorgyan and Hripsime Jebejyan.
Threatening posts appeared on social media pages, including some targeting the journalists' families. Trolls spread false information, insulted Gevorgyan and Jebejyan, and threatened to burn and torture them.
The Union of Journalists of Armenia strongly condemned these organized attacks, characterizing them as targeted, impudent, and brazen.
During the conference, Gevorgyan and Jebejyan posed uncomfortable questions to the country’s leader, highlighting the inconsistencies of his statements. Immediately after the televised press conference, the journalists were attacked online.
The threatening comments came from fake accounts as well as profiles connected to the government. Websites linked to the Prime Minister’s family and media outlets associated with high-ranking government officials also propagated attacks.
In the wake of the online onslaught, a wave of support for the journalists emerged. Many stood up for the journalists, defending their right to express their opinions and condemning those who disrespected them. According to NewDay, the number of people advocating for their protection far outweighed those who engaged in derogatory behavior.
Coordinated online smear campaigns involve organized efforts to spread false information to damage someone's reputation. Women journalists are frequently the target of attacks online, typically marred by sexism and misogyny.
For journalists, these campaigns have significant impacts. They can damage their reputation, erode their credibility, and take a toll on their emotional well-being. Smear campaigns can also lead to self-censorship. In 2023, CFWIJ documented concerted attempts to smear the reputations of women journalists in Ireland, Ukraine, Georgia, Finland, and China.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls for an end to the targeted harassment of journalists and media in Armenia. We urge the state to refrain from attacking critical journalists and respect press freedom.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.