VOICE OF PEOPLE
Aram Abrahamian

Aravot.am
11 May 06

The reasons of air crash, which happened on 3 of May, haven’t been
officially declared yet. The truth will be appeared if the Russian
part wants it. But if the investigation is delayed and is so called
“died” we can say surely that the main guilty part is Russia.

The awful disaster was a shock for us, the citizens of Armenia. For
finding out how our society beared that shock “Aravot” ordered to
its APR Group company to make a Gallup poll from 6-8 of May among
652 Yerevan citizens.

First of all we were interesting from what sources our compatriots have
got information. 6,6% has got that information from the milieu. Only
a person from 652 members mentioned Internet as the source of
information, which is pitiful, of course. It is also pitiful that
radi? has 2,6% in this list. The main part has got information from
TV companies; 30,4% from “Armenia”, 10% from H1, 5,7% from ORT, 5,2%
from RTR Planeta, 3,2% from “Shant”, 2,6% from “Armnews”. The percent
of other TV companies is less than 1%. Nobody among 652 mentioned any
newspaper as a source of information. But TV Companies can’t be glad
because only 12,6% trusts in information given by mass media, 71%
“trusts partly”, 16,4% doesn’t trust at all.

And what or whom those 652 citizens consider guilty for the air
crashes. A part of Yerevan citizens are careful in their answers,
“find difficulty in answer”, it will become clear after finding the
black box. And the first place among certain answers is the ‘Russian
dispatchers” answer, 29,6% which I consider reasonable. Second is
“organized air crash” answer which is surprising for me a little
/10,6%/. Perhaps a part of people is inclined to believe in sensational
versions full of intrigues. Other versions are “use of weapon inside
the airplane” /4,3%/, “conspiracy of foreign countries against Armenia”
/3,8%/ , “terror” /1,8%/ Weather /8,4%/ and”Armavia” company 4,8%/
are also mentioned.

And finally a result of polling which inspires optimism; “Are you or
your family members going to use of air services during 2006”. 23,2%
answered to that question positively, 49,5% gave negative answer and
27,3% didn’t know. So people haven’t been frightened so much.