"Past" newspaper writes: On November 3, the "HayaQve" National Civic Union held a protest action in front of the building of the Public Broadcaster Council.
During the action, the coordinator of the initiative Avetik Chalabyan and participants handed over to the council's staff a petition validated by the signatures of more than 300 public, political, and cultural figures, scientists, and intellectuals. The document demands the resignation of Vasak Darbinyan, the Chairman of the Public Broadcaster Council, and Hovhannes Movsisyan, the Executive Director of the Public Television Company, as well as an immediate revision of the broadcasting policy.
The immediate occasion for the protest and petition was the entertainment concert broadcast on September 27—the day the 44-day war began—by the Public Television Company. Although the television company issued an official apology the next day for what had happened and accepted responsibility, representatives of "HayaQve" stated that an apology alone was insufficient. According to Avetik Chalabyan, the improper coverage of memorial events at Yerablur and the evening broadcast of singer Tata Simonyan's concert insulted the feelings of the relatives of the fallen and society, which is a consistent consequence of the policy pursued by the leadership. The petition presents several clear accusations regarding the activities of the Public Television Company.
According to the authors, the taxpayer-funded media outlet does not ensure political neutrality and pluralism during pre-election and election periods, conducting pro-government propaganda. The document notes that during political programs, especially interviews hosted by Petros Ghazaryan, opposition views are targeted and manipulated. The work of the National Assembly is also portrayed within the positions of the ruling "Civil Contract" party, marginalizing the parliamentary opposition's activities. Moreover, according to the document, individuals who make divisive calls against the Armenian Apostolic Church and national-spiritual values are invited on air. The document was signed by more than 300 public figures.
Among them are "HayaQve" council members Menua Soghomonyan, Tsolak Akopyan, Hrayr Kamendatyan, Saida Poghosyan, Shushan Yeritsyan, propaganda researcher Karen Vrtanesyan, Azerbaijan expert Anzhela Elibegova, president of the "Armenian Project" NGO Edgar Elbakyan, and international relations expert Armen Manvelyan. The petition was also joined by lawyer Gevorg Danielyan, the first Human Rights Defender of Armenia Larisa Alaverdyan, YSU professor Gurgen Melikyan, Artsakh's Cultural Heritage Ombudsman Hovik Avanesyan, former president of the Artsakh National Assembly Ashot Gulyan, NA deputy Metakse Hakobyan, singers Shushan Petrosyan and Arsen Grigoryan (Mro), director Davit Sahakyants, director of the "Arar" Foundation Armen Khachikyan, chief editor of Alpha News Tigran Kocharyan, director of ABC Media Abraham Gasparyan, political figure Naira Zohrabyan, as well as hundreds of other intellectuals, public figures, and participants of the 44-day war.
During the action, Avetik Chalabyan announced that if the Public Broadcaster Council does not adequately respond and satisfy the demands of the petition, they will resort to legal mechanisms to achieve a change in the Public Television Company's broadcasting policy.
