There is no free media in the world than in Armenia. NA RPA faction MP Sukias Avetisyan thinks so. “They say whom, where and what they want regardless of whether it is right or wrong. I do not know any other freedom bigger than that,” said the parliamentarian, in an interview with Aravot.am, referring to the annual report by the index of the level of freedom in the world by the Freedom House human rights organization. Note that according to the report, Armenia was recognized as a partly free country in 2015 on free media and free Internet access. “I do not know what Freedom House has reported, in any case, I do not agree with their reported data, our media is very free, I have not noticed any pressure on the media,” opines Sukias Avetisyan. He also does not consider Armenia a partly free country, moreover, oppressed by Russia and being under the bad influence of Russia.
“I do not understand what pressure you are talking about, we are in the same economic, military-political field with Russia, a member of CSTO. There are respective agreements and there is no pressure or a negative impact. Let them not express such opinions in vain. It is natural that Armenia will justify the formulation of Russia’s pressure and bad influence by its accession to the EaEU. If Armenia had preferred the EU, this partly free would not happen, there would be another wording. These assessments are more a result of geopolitical games rather than a survey based on real arguments. I do not consider them objective opinions. If the estimates of this organization were factual, we would consider them as basis and would worry about, but since there are no grounds and are conditioned by the fact that Armenia preferred the EaEU from the EU, then they are under the influence and pressure of Russia, it is not a justification that there is no freedom in our country and the media is under pressure.”
Arpine SIMONYAN
