TV BOYCOTT OF PRESS CONFERENCES PROVES IMPERFECTION OF DEMOCRACY IN
ARMENIA, ARMEN RUSTAMIAN STATES

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the observation of Armen
Rustamian, a representative of the ARFD Supreme Body, the fact that it
is four days that TV companies’ press services have been boycotting
press conferences organized at journalist clubs proves imperfection of
democratic processes in Armenia. As he mentioned at the October 19
press conference, unless the fourth power is an independent institution
and there is a center, which can place a ban on its activity, "it means
that the country has big problems in the respect of democracy." As A.
Rustamian characterized it, by boycotting press conferences of various
politicians, the boycott organizers deprive the people of the
possibility to receive information, as well as fail the dispute format.
Promising that he will personally find out boycott’s reasons, A.
Rustamian stated that he will become "the most radical oppositionist"
in this issue.

In the ARFD representative’s words, the bodies and structures, which,
according to the law, should be independent and unbiassed, in general,
are not independent in Armenia. "For instance, a judge should be
dependent on the law and not those appointing and relieving him. The
National Assembly Control Chamber should also be really independent and
have an unbiassed chairman," A. Rustamian noted. Besides, according to
him, the laws should give the parliamentary minority a possibility to
influence the things, for the majority not to be able to thrust its
opinion upon the latter.