No Positive Articles About Ararat Mirzoyan, Says 'Media Defender'

From October 21 to 31, 2019, the 'Media Defender' initiative monitored online media related to the activities and persona of the National Assembly President Ararat Mirzoyan. A total of 35 leading news sites in Armenia were constantly monitored. During this period, 414 articles were analyzed, of which 91 were negative and 323 were neutral.

National Assembly President Ararat Mirzoyan has recently been under scrutiny in the media. Despite this attention, no positive articles were noted. The President's team faces significant challenges regarding this matter.

Sonya Aghakyants, a member of the 'Alternative Municipality' initiative and a former city council member, along with residents of 4-16 Ekmalian Street, staged a protest in front of the government building. The residents reminded that they have been living in rental apartments for over 8 years. Aghakyants noted that instead of the Prime Minister and the National Assembly President Ararat Mirzoyan's families, it is the citizens living in rentals and without jobs that should occupy the government residences to solve the rental payment issue.

According to media reports, Ararat Mirzoyan met with Gianni Buquicchio, the President of the Venice Commission of the European Commission for Democracy through Law. Reports indicate that the Istanbul Convention was one of the topics discussed during this meeting. Mirzoyan mentioned that if they succeed in changing the current composition of the Constitutional Court and removing Hrayr Tovmasyan, the ratification of the convention would be easier. According to Mirzoyan, the most serious obstacle to ratification currently is the President of the Constitutional Court.

Media reports indicate that Gianni Buquicchio, while referring to the events surrounding the Constitutional Court, stated that the processes against Hrayr Tovmasyan give the impression of political persecution.

During an official visit to the Italian Republic, Ararat Mirzoyan met with the President of the Italian Senate, Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, on October 28. During the discussion about Artsakh, Mirzoyan emphasized that sometimes Italy takes steps that do not contribute to the peaceful resolution of the process. Casellati responded to this remark, stating that their actions fully align with their state's official position.

In another analysis, Mirzoyan took a more advanced stance during his speech at the European conference of parliamentary presidents of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. He spoke about the 'Velvet Revolution' and its benefits, which have been serving as a calling card for over a year and a half. The publication states: 'It is surprising that Mirzoyan has not questioned whether he has exhausted his strategy of presenting to the world only under the brand of the 'Velvet Revolution', and if it has not already exhausted the world.'

In his speech, Mirzoyan critically approached the President of the Constitutional Court. The media raises the question: 'Has Mirzoyan run out of things to say, forcing him to focus on the events surrounding the Constitutional Court, and was he not aware that his European counterparts know what kind of pressures are being exerted on the judiciary?'