Most of the Public Television’s May 23rd broadcast was devoted to the discussions over the judicial system. Two reports of news broadcast were criticizing the current judiciary. Particularly, the report entitled “The Legal Aspect of the CC Presidency” states that “Hrayr Tovmasyan was appointed to the office of the CC President with violation of the Constitution.” Those who challenge the issue of impartiality of the Constitutional Court draw attention to the legal aspect of the CC presidency. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhpTxveD7bw)
In the next report (“Assessments to the previous CC decisions”), USSR political prisoners Meruzhan Hovhannisyan and Vardan Harutyunyan stated that “during the electoral appeal the CC has always been one-sided for the current power.” They claim that the transitional justice is a necessity for our country. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrJZbPiZx8k)
Besides the above-mentioned reports, Petros Ghazaryan’s interview with Taguhi Tovmasyan, MP of the “My Step” faction of the National Assembly, also touched the same topic. During the interview, Tovmasyan was doubting the legitimacy of Gagik Harutyunyan’s activities. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=609&v=FpeLXWnjGaU)
In the framework of this program, the Public Television news program director was mainly a passive listener, whose silence was interrupted only when expressing consent. Meanwhile, according to impartial journalism rules, if the opposite side is not represented, the journalist is obliged to present it or to ask some questions that will serve as a counterbalance to the viewpoint of the represented side.
In fact, within the framework of the program, as in the above-mentioned videos, numerous accusations related to judicial power are made.
“Media Advocate” urges to provide the opposite side’s viewpoint when launching reports with such supportive statements , otherwise Public TV’s activity may be considered biased: it’s not acceptable for a broadcasting company, which is working at the expense of public funds.
