The angry crowd tried to gain access to the bureau of RFE/RL by breaking down the door to the offices, attempting to destroy property and equipment and allegedly attacking employees, according to the Union of Journalists in Armenia (UJA), an IFJ affiliate, and a report by RFE/RF.
The attackers voiced their anger against the Armenian government’s deal with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region and the media’s role in reporting on the conflict. Some of the attackers said they aimed to disrupt RFE/RL's broadcasting.
Chaotic protests erupted in Yerevan on 10 November after Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia announced the signing of a peace deal in the conflict over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Protestors stormed government buildings and the parliament, damaging buildings and offices.
The Union of Journalists of Armenia"strongly condemns such actions, calls to refrain from illegally interfering in the activities of the media, threatening media representatives, and taking any such step."
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “We strongly condemn the violence used by protestors to show their disagreement with the deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan and their attack on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Media must be protected from such attacks and we call on Armenian authorities to ensure media staff's safety.”