“Azatutyun’s” analytical programs are propagandistic

“Azatutyun’s” “Sunday-analytical with Hrair Tamrazyan” which was aired on June 2 was devoted to vetting. The vetting process is presented mostly in a positive light.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U9tmS2aGgQ First of all, the host Hrair Tamrazyan introduces Vahe Grigoryan’s position stating that, according to the lawyer, “vetting is a necessity” and “it should have been applied much earlier “. Then the member of the “My Step” ruling party Nikolay Baghdasaryan presents the vetting of acting judges as a right way out. Then, during the same release, an interview on the Albanian vetting process with Arbana Vishikidich, the head of RFERL’s Balkan service, has been presented. The next guest of the program is Arman Babajanyan, a member of the “Bright Armenia” faction. Though he is considered a member of the NA opposition faction, he clearly supports the vetting process, substantiating his position: “The first condition is the unity. We should do everything to have no power against vetting in the NA. ”
On June 3, during “Azatutyun’s” evening broadcast, again, the topic of the judges’ vetting is addressed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsJMjBuGt74 Vardan Ayvazyan, a constitutional law expert, responds to the question of how the judges’ cleansing will be carried out. He mostly expresses a neutral position in his speech, showing the effective way of vetting implementation. The only opinion opposed to vetting in the report is CC President Hrayr Tovmasyan’s point, whose words were quoted from his interview with tert.am where he expresses conviction that judges will not be subjected to vetting in Armenia and that the field’s problems can be solved by judges with disciplinary liability by improving the mechanisms of exploitation, by utilizing the full potential of the future Anti-Corruption Commission. This opinion is opposed by Vardan Ayvazyan, then the position of Nikolay Baghdasaryan, a member of the “My Step” faction is presented.
On June 3, during an evening report of “Azatutyun” News Center, the vetting process in Albania is presented and again an interview (aired on June 2) with Arbana Vishikidic, head of the Freedom of Information Center of Liberty is showed. The concluding idea is the following: “The country must pass through all this to strengthen and purify its pillars of democracy. Vetting of the judiciary is the first step in establishing the rule of law, due to which every citizen of the country will benefit. ”
Let us add that on May 28 “Azatutyun” TV broadcasted a report titled “How are the former’s” influencing the judiciary “, which hosted human rights defender Nina Karapetyan, former judge, lawyer Pargev Ohanyan and lawyer Tigran Hayrapetyan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUJ11t5OBpI During the entire discussion, opinions are introduced about the “vicious” and “criminal” judicial system. The main idea of the discussion is that the whole composition of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Judicial Council, the Cassation Court and the Appellate Courts should be replaced immediately, that is to say, the problem should be resolved by revolutionary means.
To sum up, we can state that on June 2, “Azatutyun’s” broadcast on the judiciary vetting included exclusively positive ideas, and there was no contradictory viewpoint. On June 3, a neutral position was heard, and the only opposing position was the CC President’s point, which was quoted from an interview given to another media outlet. “Azatutyun” thus carries out a clear propaganda of government policies and programs, devoting most of its broadcast to the dissemination of the pro-government point of view. Moreover, in the text reports, the government propaganda is not as vivid as in case of a TV broadcast.