Experts say that coverage of protests by Armenian TV is passive

The Armenian television is not trying to manipulate the public opinion when covering protests against hike in electricity prices; however, the events themselves in the country are covered rather passively, believe the Armenian experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 17, the Commission for Regulation of Public Services (CRPS) of Armenia made a decision to increase electricity tariffs, starting from August 1, by 6.93 drams per 1 kW/h. This decision caused a series of protests around the country.

Boris Navasardyan, the Chairman of the Yerevan Press Club, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that Armenian TV channels were trying to cover the events informatively. They impose no judgements and represent the positions of all the parties; however, they lack an in-depth analysis of what is happening.

"They have very few discussion programmes, which could help to understand the whole depth of the problem," said Navasardyan. Some Russian TV channels that are watched in Armenia are misinforming the public about the protests in Yerevan; therefore, the leading Armenian media should assess the situation, he believes.

Some Russian mass media attempt to present the social revolt in Armenia as an "Armenian Maydan," Karen Kocharyan, a political technologist, told the "Caucasian Knot". At the same time, in his words, Armenian TV channels fail to use political technologies, while covering the protest movements. He did not rule out the use of them as the events unfold.

"Television is rather passive in covering the developments in the country; and the population is mainly receiving information from Internet-based media; and some of them are broadcasting the events live on air," said Kocharyan.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.