Vienna, 15/12/2017
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemned a recent incident in Russia, which occurred during “The Process” talk-show, which is run by state-owned TV station Zvezda (“Звезда”.).
Journalist, political expert and editor-in-chief of news agency Realist Sarkis Tsaturyan ( Саркис Цатурян) was physically attacked during the show, and on-air.
During a discussion about US President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as a capital of Israel, a participant in the discussion stated that he would like “the Turk-phobic experts of Armenian and Syrian nationalities, who downplayed the role of Turkey, calm down”. When Tsaturyan attempted to respond, the participant walked up to him and tried to push him, while repeatedly demanding that the journalist stay silent while he speaks. The show hosts managed to separate the guests.
SEEMO expressed concern that an outright physical attack could happen in front of TV cameras and called on the assailant to offer a public apology to the journalist he tried to tackle. Physical violence and hate speech are never keys to resolving a dispute or difference of opinions.
SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe.