FREEDOM OF PRESS ON SATISFACTORY LEVEL IN ARMENIA: EXPERT

ARKA
June 27

Freedom of the press is on a satisfactory level in Armenia, political
analyst Shushan Khatlamajyan, Coordinator of the Civil Society and
Regional Development Institute, stated at the "Novosti" International
Press Centre.

"I don’t think that mass media enjoy low independence in Armenian,
especially when comparing the situation with that in the other South
Caucasus countries. Armenian mass media are much more independent
than those in Georgia. Things are much worse with Azerbaijan, where
journalists are persecuted and assaulted," she said.

However, Armenia still has a lot to do, the political scientist
believes.

"Armenian TV channels give wide opportunities for expression of
viewpoints which is even difficult to imagine for other countries,"
she said.

According to her, public televisions have some shortcomings-
commercials must be fewer on public televisions, the strategy should
be changed and the staff should be refreshed.

Commenting on the reports about the situation of the freedom of
expression in Armenia made by different organizations, she said
the evaluations which are getting worse and worse are sometimes
politicized.

"Ratings are usually based on one fact – closure of A1+ TV channel,
moreover, they usually describe it as the closure of the only
independent media in Armenia, though independent media do not exist
at all, each receives financing, each has founders, political goals
and strategy," Khatlamajyan said.