From 11 to 20 July, 2019, the “Media Advocate” initiative followed online media reports on the Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, Lilit Makunts’s personality and activities.
35 leading Armenian news agencies have been monitored.
In the specified period, 148 articles were declared, 36 of which were negative, 1 was positive and 111 were neutral.
The media field continues to be a platform where Lilit Makunts’ rating goes down. Lilit Makunts simply fails to improve her rating. The NA delegation’s visit to the United States has been criticized during this ten-day period. It is noted that the visit cost 60,000 USD. Lilit Makunts was also a member of that delegation.
After the Venice Commission statement and its point on vetting process, Lilit Makunts said there is no bill on vetting. At that time the news outlets recalled Lilit Makunts’ comments on vetting, according to which the draft was already ready: this move was criticized.
The news outlets note that some members of Supreme Judicial Council resigned. The press also writes that the reason why the judge of RA Court of Appeal Ani Mkhitaryan and lawyer Hayk Hovhannisyan still stay, is clear: Mkhitaryan is a friend of Lilit Makunts, head of the NA “My Step” faction, and Hovhannisyan was the judge who did not agree with Supreme Judicial Council’s famous statement.
Lilit Makunts’ clarifications regarding the elections of the rest members of the SJC are also being criticized. The news outlets say that the law is violated in terms of time and the elections of the candidates are not organized yet.
It turns out that Lilit Makunts is also accused of sponsoring, although her political team has emphasized the principle of working without “nepotism” cases. Lilit Makunts must choose her words and so as she does not appear in inconvenient situation after rearrangements and changes in the political reality.
