H1's 'News' Program Maximally Ignores Arman Tatoyan's Activities Coverage

The news program of the Public Television continues to maximally ignore the publications of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia regarding important events happening in the country, operating on the principle of excluding broadcasts on the Defender’s activities, the office of the Human Rights Defender reports.

“This severely condemnable modus operandi was addressed by Armenia's Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan back on May 6, 2021, during his concluding remarks at the annual report in the National Assembly. The basis of the Defender's statement was the results of months of objective monitoring. Following that speech in the National Assembly, coverage of the Human Rights Defender’s activities has been particularly restricted.

Given this unacceptable situation, the Human Rights Defender's office conducted new monitoring. The facts confirm that the situation is more alarming than it was before May 6, with the coverage of the activities of the only state institution established for human rights protection, as stipulated by the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, being ignored by the state television founded by the Armenian government. This reflects a policy that violates human rights guaranteed by the Constitution and laws.

From July 1 to December 2, 2021, monitoring of all 'News' broadcasts (10:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00, Day in 60 seconds) published on YouTube confirms that the provision of objective and comprehensive information to individuals regarding the Human Rights Defender’s activities, as well as introducing human rights issues to the public and promoting dissenting opinions, has been seriously violated.

This conclusion is based on approximately five months of monitoring results, of which several examples are presented below:

1. During the specified period, the Human Rights Defender noted numerous issues in psychiatric hospitals, correctional institutions, and in the medical assistance and housing provision for soldiers, as well as in the rights of women and children, health care and social issues, and others, presenting proposed solutions while carrying out public awareness efforts aimed at breaking stereotypes, none of which were made available to the public. Videos providing a comprehensive representation of these issues were not prepared.
2. Throughout the five months, no invitations for interviews on any topic were initiated by 'News' with the Human Rights Defender or a representative of the office. In matters related to human rights, the position or results of the Human Rights Defender’s activities were never clarified. This is particularly important, as many questions regarding reviews in prisons or psychiatric hospitals fall within the exclusive awareness of the Defender and his team. Coverage has only occurred in rare cases through mere formal reproduction of official statements.
3. Conversely, statements from other state bodies that unjustly refute the Human Rights Defender’s statements have been unilaterally broadcast. However, 'News' has made no mention of the Defender’s reports on the actual issues at hand. For instance, the denials from the Ministry of Defense and even the community mayor's office have been aired, but the position of the Human Rights Defender has not been published, and inquiries have not been made to clarify it.
4. Facts demonstrate that especially those statements from the Human Rights Defender that reveal illegalities by Azerbaijan and violations of the rights of residents in border areas of Armenia are not covered. The public is not presented with the solutions suggested by the Human Rights Defender, including as an alternative to the Government's position. At best, there is a formal coverage under 'running headlines.' Systematic non-coverage of announcements regarding Azerbaijani violations is particularly condemnable, as these statements aim to protect the rights of the residents of Armenia, highlighting the illegality of the presence of Azerbaijani armed personnel near our villages and roads.
5. The situations are numerous; for instance, there has been no coverage regarding fact-finding activities or noted issues in the Syunik province from November 29 to December 2. On the contrary, during those days, numerous reports that conceal the actual situation at the border and distort facts have been broadcast, contradicting the protection of the rights of the residents of Armenia.
6. The Human Rights Defender has repeatedly warned that the Public Television, being founded by the Government of Armenia, is obliged to consider that the materials it prepares reflect a state approach; this also means that these materials can become evidence against the rights of Armenian citizens, especially in international courts. Conversely, objective coverage can serve as evidence in those courts for protecting the rights of our compatriots.
7. The representation regarding the Human Rights Defender’s activities is the same on the 1lurer.am website. The described policy of the Public Television grossly violates each person's right to receive information and to be aware of significant events happening in the country. Providing individuals with objective information shapes citizens' oversight over the state, which is a cornerstone of democracy.
8. The behavior of H1's 'News' creates the impression that either the institution of the Human Rights Defender does not exist in Armenia at all or it is in total inaction. This leads to the non-availability of the Human Rights Defender's activities to a broad layer of the public, especially in rural areas, which is directly related to undermining public trust and recognition. Consequently, this negatively impacts the Human Rights Defender’s ability to effectively carry out his constitutional mission, given that this mission is predominantly fulfilled by the power of public authority, which threatens the support the Defender can provide to individuals.
9. The omission of coverage (which has now been prolonged) does not allow for effective work in matters of systemic problem-solving (for example, combating hate speech through public awareness, etc.). In other words, it is evident that we are talking about obstacles to the constitutional mission of the Human Rights Defender. Moreover, the described situation is directly related to the international accreditation of the Human Rights Defender's institution.
10. Thus, H1's political line also violates the right of every individual guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia to receive assistance from the Human Rights Defender, which cannot be limited in any case. This is particularly concerning considering that the 'News' program is the primary source of news across the country for residents both in Armenia and in the Diaspora and Artsakh. In other words, this relates to the rights of our compatriots living both in Armenia, Artsakh, and the Diaspora.
11. Through the described policy, the Public Television, being established by the Government, undermines the state's positive obligations, inflicts serious damage to freedom of speech and the foundations of democracy, and creates dangerous precedents.
12. We specifically note that the Human Rights Defender's institution does not aspire to appear daily in various broadcasts; it is about institutional approaches to the neglect of the most pressing issues concerning human rights, which the Public Television's 'News' program has been doing in a condemnable manner for a prolonged period. It is important to emphasize that this statement pertains only to H1's 'News' program since, in other non-news formats, the Defender's office has some cooperation.

Thus, considering everything mentioned above, Armenia's Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan will start an inquiry process of discussion on his own initiative. Official inquiries will be directed to the Public Television, the Public Broadcaster's Council, and the Television and Radio Commission to seek clarifications regarding the mentioned issues. The questions will be substantiated from the perspective of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the RA Law on 'Audiovisual Media,' the regulations of the Public Broadcaster's Council, and several other legal acts. Simultaneously, official communication will also be initiated with relevant international bodies.

Until then, the Human Rights Defender demands the provision of proper and objective coverage of the Defender’s activities. It is important to inform that the Human Rights Defender has already personally spoken with leaders of several international intergovernmental and civil society organizations, presenting the concerning situation, and by agreement, monitoring outcomes will be translated and sent alongside this statement. These issues will be under the direct ongoing attention of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia. This time, we also publish the study results so that the public can also see the policy of neglecting the Defender's activities by the government-founded Public Television, violating the Constitution and RA legislation,” the statement of the Human Rights Defender reads.