Arman Babajanyan, the chairman of the "For the Republic" party, wrote on his Facebook page:
"The ambassador of any country, even the friendliest, cannot and does not have the right to decide which media outlet should be present at a press conference, which one should be invited out of the way.
Today's move by Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Sobhani is a lack of respect for Armenia. It is an insult not only to the journalist of Radio Liberty but also to Armenia's public institutions, free press, and the statehood of our country in general. Such an act must be condemned at all levels.
I may have profound disagreements with Radio Liberty's editorial policy, but freedom of speech cannot be conditioned by sympathy or antipathy. It is this freedom that distinguishes us from dictatorships. And it is this freedom that must be protected first and foremost in cases when we do not like the voice of any media outlet or journalist.
By accepting that condition and continuing the press conference anyway, the organizers shared that unacceptable behavior. They should have refused to hold the event under those conditions.
Dear Mr. Ambassador, this is our country. And in this country, the doors will be open to all journalists. No foreign official or diplomat can choose between "pleasant" and "unpleasant" media outlets. I express my unconditional support to Radio Liberty and the radio station's journalist, Ruzanna Stepanyan."
