From 11 to 20 April, 2020, the “Media Advocate” initiative followed online media reports on the RA Minister of Health, Arsen Torosyan’s personality and activities.
35 leading Armenian news agencies have been monitored.
In the specified period, 509 articles were declared, 54 of which were negative, 4 were positive and 451 were neutral.
Numerous negative articles were published on the RA Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan. Arsen Torosyan has been criticized in the press and on social networks for vaccination-related issues. According to media reports, there are contradictions between Arsen Torosyan and Nikol Pashinyan. One of the publication notes: “There is not any region in Armenia where we do not have any coronavirus case, we will not have a village soon where there is none. Moreover, we surely have cases among our acquaintances as well. Why don’t we talk about this? Tell the truth to people. Nikol Pashinyan states that everything is under control, Arsen Torosyan states that we have lost control. Pashinyan says that we are about to overcome the virus, but when we are asking the Minister of Health why there were so many cases the day before, and only few yesterday, he answers that we tested a lot the day before. The regional governor says everything is under control, and a day later the two villages are completely isolated. What else is under control? Could there be such a contradiction in a government consisting of only 12 people? The citizen is locked in the house, watching you on the Social Networks, via lives, shaking his head and hands, cursing you, because he sees that you are speaking simply opposite things, you do not understand the matter, you trample power”.
Inter-ethnic conflict expert Nairi Hokhikyan wrote the following on his Facebook page: “According to the April 18 statement of the Minister of Health, if the development rates continue increasing like this, there will be 2500 cases in Armenia on May 4 and 5000 cases on May 21. With this very logic, the Minister stated on April 9 that in case of maintenance of the rates, there will be 1800 cases in Armenia on April 19, and 3600 on April 29. As we notice, the minister’s calculations are far from reality. I, of course, understand that with such pessimistic calculations or assumptions Arsen Torosyan is trying to show the public the worst that can happen if people do not follow the quarantine, social distance and self-isolation rules. Then, if the presented figures do not become a reality, it may be stated how well the healthcare system headed by the minister worked.”
