2011 was a difficult year for Journalists in Armenia - Ashot Melkonyan.

The overall number of cases when media representatives were pressurized reached 49 last year, head of committee on protection of freedom of speech Ashot Melkonyan told the journalists on Tuesday.

There were seven cases when journalists’ right to get and spread information was violated, he added.

According to him, there were 9 cases of physical violence against journalists, 19 cases of pressure towards media employees and 7 cases of violating right for getting and spreading information in 2010.

“Generally journalists and media employees worked under difficult conditions,” Melkonyan said adding last year registered less cases of physical violence, while pressure on media employees has significantly increased compared to the last three years.