From 1 to 20 December, 2019, the “Media Advocate” initiative followed online media reports on the Minister Arayik Harutyunyan’s personality and activities. 35 leading Armenian news agencies have been monitored.
In the specified period, 966 articles were declared, 424 of which were negative, 41 were positive and 501 were neutral.
Negative articles on the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Arayik Harutyunyan continue to prevail. Critical opinions were published by media outlets.
According to the survey conducted by the “GALLUP International Association”, ESCS Minister Arayik Harutyunyan received 2.7 points which is the lowest score.
The media made a comparison between the blockade of the ESCS and the Court entrances. The analysis has it: “Isn’t it a mockery for the country and the people when the highest official of the country calls for blocking the courts, and the next day the MPs of the National Assembly take part in illegal action, moreover it is done, with the permissiveness of brave police officers, the same police officers who then attacked and detained a group of youngsters participating in peaceful sit-in with a demand to respect the state language of Armenia, and the resignation of Minister Arayik Harutyunyan.”
ARF (Armenian Revolutionary Foundation) youth presented 15 facts why Arayik Harutyunyan can no longer hold this post. Gor Sargsyan, a member of the ARF Youth Union, said the facts were even more than 15, but they highlighted the most important.
One of the publications refers to Article 2 of the “Law on Language”, which states that the teaching of the Armenian language is compulsory in “all secondary-vocational, vocational-technical and higher education institutions of the Republic of Armenia. Then the media quotes Vladimir Karapetyan’s recent statement that on December 13 Prime Minister Vladimir Karapetyan warned the organizers of the Lazarian Club, to organize the Lazarian Club events in accordance with the RA “Law on Language” that is in Armenian or at least with simultaneous translation provided. The media asks the reason why Vladimir Karapetyan keeps silent when the ESCS Minister violates the “Law on Language” declaring that the Armenian language teaching will not be mandatory.
