BBC Monitoring Trans Caucasus Unit, UK

Tuesday

 

 

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has claimed that most media outlets in the country are trying to discredit the new authorities. He did not specify which media outlets he was referring to, however, or provide details to back up his claims.

 

In a live link-up on Facebook on 15 January, Pashinyan charged that the 90 per cent of media in the country was controlled by or belonged to the former authorities. He criticised them of attempting to belittle the government's accomplishments and portray the new authorities as a repeat of the previous government.

 

His comments follow some speculation in the media about how much he spends on his clothes and if his party is following the traditions of the Republicans, the previous ruling party.

 

This is not the first time Pashinyan has made vague allegations against the media. He warned unnamed TV stations against "anti-state propaganda" in a Facebook post published late on 18 June.

 

Former authorities' campaign

 

"I want us to state one thing – 90 per cent of the media field either belongs to representatives of the former authorities or to the forces opposing us," Pashinyan said on 15 January.

 

"The media resources which exist now are either free or are in the hands of the forces opposing us. And the main part of the media, which are in the hands of the opposing force, are controlled by the former authorities," he said.

 

He added that "two main members of the former authorities" owned the media outlets although he refused to name them.

 

Pashinyan noted that the main trend among the media is an attempt "to Republican-ise" the current authorities.

 

"They want to demonstrate that there is no difference between the current authorities and the [former] Republican authorities," he said.

 

Undermine reforms

 

Pashinyan said the main aim was to convince people of the "senselessness of changes". He noted that a campaign to spread desperation and hopelessness was the main line pursued by the former authorities during their 20 years in power.

 

"Why is this being done? This is done to demonstrate that the changes, which have taken place in the Republic of Armenia, are senseless and that nothing has changed in the country, absolutely nothing. And the campaign against my family and our close political team plays a special role in this propaganda campaign," he said.

 

Pashinyan also criticised media outlets over their speculation on his son's short leave from the army, his family's purchases in shops, his clothing and travel.