Lragir, Armenia
Feb 8 2008

OMBUDSMAN IS DISSATISFIED WITH PUBLIC TELEVISION

I am dissatisfied with the coverage on the Public Television, before
the election process. The human rights defender Armen Harutiunyan
voiced his dissatisfaction February 8 at the Hayeli club, answering
the question of a reporter whether in the period of the election the
human rights defender can defend the right of the citizens if the
right for information is violated.

`I should note that the private channels, their mindset, they
approach, their policy is a little different, and in all countries
Public Televisions should guarantee pluralism. They must guarantee
pluralism. In most cases, with its media the Public Television seems
to become one of the poles, responds to one political activist or
another through its reporters, meanwhile it is supposed to provide
coverage, and it is up to the society to measure objectivity. In this
connection, I have noticed bias before the presidential process. They
have made efforts for more parity but there are a lot of things to
do, and I think the right of the citizens for information is violated
in this connection,’ Armen Harutiunyan says.

The reporters asked whether he will be able to protect this right?
`All I can do is to make a statement, and I will continue if this
tendency persists,’ says the human rights defender.