From 1 to 10 May, 2020, the “Media Advocate” initiative followed online media reports on the President of the National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan’s personality and activities. 35 leading Armenian news agencies have been monitored.
In the specified period, 454 articles were declared, 26 of which were negative, 16 were positive and 412 were neutral.
RA NA Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan has been criticized. A fight broke out in the National Assembly with Sasun Mikayelyan, a representative of the My Step fraction, and Edmon Marukyan, the leader of the Bright Armenia fraction. Other deputies joined the fight as well. According to the publications, after Nikol Pashinyan’s speech, applause was heard in the National Assembly, which has been criticized. “The revolutionary was fighting against the semi-revolutionary. In front of everyone’s eyes, the revolutionary provoked and attacked. Everyone saw it, including the revolutionary 88. But then their leader appeared and responded almost in the style of Orwell: “You didn’t see it right, it was Edmon’s fault…” And 88 started applauding, which meant, of course, we didn’t see it right, we didn’t understand it correctly … Of course, Edmon was guilty. Ararat Mirzoyan was also applauding, the one who only 2 hours ago, was at a loss, calling security, in order to restrain the revolutionary”.
Media, referring to the fight, also wrote that Ararat Mizoyan’s inactivity meant one thing, he understood that they would not listen to him, and his rating would fall even more․ “Do you know what is interesting that the fight in the National Assembly took place in the presence of Nikol Pashinyan, that is to say, his deputies do not respect him. The members of the government were trying to calm down the deputies, but Nikol Pashinyan and Ararat Mirzoyan did not even move. Why? Because they would ignore them and the latter ones would have been even more embarrassed.
Another news agency, referring to the events of May 8, wrote: “By the way, on May 8, before tearing each other to shreds in the parliament, something truly worth mentioning happened. Before or after congratulating Arsen Julfalakyan on his birthday, NA Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan forgot to note even half-heartedly that it was the day of the liberation of Shushi and congratulate on that occasion. When he was reminded several times from different people of that, he only mentioned that May 8 is a day of a glorious victory…etc.”
