Human Rights Defender of Armenia discontent with the coverage of the
pre-election campaign by the Public TV

February 8, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian Human Rights Defender Armen Harutiunian
sated today that he is discontent with the coverage of the pre-election
campaign of the Public TV (PTV).

Mediamax reports that Armen Harutiunian stated that the Public TV does
not secure pluralism of opinions and demonstrates certain bias towards
certain presidential candidates.

The Ombudsman expressed hope that his statement will influence the
further work of the PTV, and the marked phenomena will be corrected in
the nearest future.

Armen Harutiunian stated that all the candidates in their own way
deserve to become the President of the country, however, the society
should choose the most worthy candidate, who will be able to take upon
himself the responsibility for the future of Armenia. The Human Rights
Defender condemned the efforts to gain victory during the coming
elections by illegal means, noting that `a person, who distributes
pre-election bribes, will not be able to be a guarantor of democratic
society’.