Shutdown will become nonsensical
ANC coordinator Levon Zurabyan sees two main problems with freedom of speech in Armenia.
"The first problem is television, which is completely under the control of the presidential apparatus. There were pledges that all stations would have the opportunity to broadcast after digitization. In reality, out of the 22 television stations, only 18 were given the opportunity and that set restrictions on freedom of speech in Armenia. The regime is not giving up total control over television stations."
Levon Zurabyan says the second problem is the recent campaign against print media.
"The authorities, including different officials and the oligarchs are trying to suppress the media with lawsuits. It seems as though they are fighting for their dignity, but they are completely losing it in the process."
According to Levon Zurabyan, citizens' fundamental principle of receiving information is being violated.
"The problems that I mentioned set restrictions. We don't have adequate coverage of events taking place in Armenia. There are two worlds-the real Armenia and the Armenia we see on television and that is a serious problem."
"Heritage" party MP Armen Martirosyan shares "Freedom House"'s evaluation that Armenia has been an "unfree" country from the angle of freedom of speech since 2002.
"That year is not by chance. That was when "A1+" and "Noyan Tapan" television stations were shut down. Since then, restrictions were set on pluralism on television. "A1+" and "Noyan Tapan" ensured free speech for not only citizens, but other television stations so that they wouldn't be dependent on the presidential apparatus."
According to Armen Martirosyan, one of the issues in Armenia's news field is that a mass media outlet is called oppositionist if it is objective and is not the government's mouthpiece.
"The only reason is that the authorities don't want to see free competition because in that case, they can't keep power."
Martirosyan says online presses fill in the television gap, but not everyone has access to them. Armen Martirosyan is certain that shutting down television stations will soon become nonsensical due to the development of the Internet.
