On
the night of Saturday 19 to Sunday 20 October, a robbery took place on
the premises of the editorial office of the Armenian News Magazine, one
of the main headlines of the Armenian press.
Material but mostly sensitive and confidential data, working papers and
part of the fruit of the investigations in progress have disappeared. And this, a few hours from the departure of the newspaper for printing.
The CCAF
(Coordinating Council of Armenian Associations of France) strongly
condemns this intrusion, which seems linked to the magazine’s object.
Editor-in-chief Ara Toranian was particularly vocal in recent days in
support of the Kurds, victims of the Turkish offensive in Syria. He participated in the meeting organized by CCAF
and Bernard-Henri Lévy on the parvis of human rights on October 12 at a
meeting at the Théâtre du Gymnase with Jean-Christophe Lagarde on
October 15 and at the demonstration of the CDK – F to the Republic.
The editorial is known for its commitment to the defense of freedom in
Turkey, the denial of genocide denial of Armenians, as well as its
support for the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Its director is also subject to judicial harassment by Holocaust deniers.
For Mourad Papazian, Co-Chair, with Ara Toranian, CCAF , ” this robbery is an attack. It is signed by the Turkish services in Paris. We expected an offensive by Turkey’s ambassador to France against anti-Erdogan circles. This attack not only aims to collect information about our future projects but also constitutes an attempt at intimidation. As a result, we ask the French authorities to exercise extreme vigilance to protect freedom of expression. ”
CCAF National Office
October 21, 2019