“Media Advocate” Initiative Expresses its Support to “Zhoghovurd” Daily

“Media Advocate” Initiative has explored Health Minister Arsen Torosyan’s Facebook live. The minister was commenting on the scandals related to his name. During his live, Arsen Torosyan, in addition to addressing personal problems with former or current employees, also referred to the “Zhoghovurd” daily.

Minister accuses media of launching campaign against him and publishing articles by order: “It all started about a year ago when we wanted to change the staff of Yerevan State Medical University by dismissing the former government representatives and appointing new people. Since then the campaign against me has started mainly by means of the newspaper “Zhoghovurd” which in a bad sense has become a microphone of the rector of YSMU,” the Minister noted during his live.

Arsen Torosyan baselessly blames the media. The news outlet has done its job and if, as the minister points out, there are ungrounded speculations in the media, then why there are no lawsuits against it? It should be reminded that the Civil Code of the Republic of Armenia contains relevant articles on damages to the dignity and dignity of a person.

Arsen Torosyan may not be aware of the situation and it is possible that the content of the articles is somehow misrepresented to him, but it is unacceptable to blame the media. This is an unacceptable step against freedom of speech, another proof why Arsen Torosyan’s positive image in the media is rapidly “disappearing” (see “Media Advocate” initiative’s monitoring results).

“Media Advocate” Initiative expresses its support to the editorial staff of the Zhoghovurd daily, it is ready to assist the media with all possible domestic and interstate legal means to restore the damage to the media’s image and dignity.

We urge politicians, in particular Arsen Torosyan, to avoid going beyond the red lines because of personal problems and not to impede the exercise of freedom of speech through illegal and insulting means.