Protest held outside Armenian Prosecutor’s Office over public broadcaster bia

A protest was held outside the Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office on Friday, where demonstrators accused Armenia’s public broadcaster of political bias and violating fundamental rights.

Nina Karapetyants, founder of the Nzhar Party and a human rights advocate, said the Public TV Company has increasingly supported “anti-Armenian projects” to an unprecedented degree.

“Public TV has never truly served its intended purpose and has always been used for political expediency,” Karapetyants said. “However, it has never before provided such extensive support to anti-Armenian initiatives.”

She argued that key rights, including freedom of conscience and fair treatment of religious organizations, have been undermined. Karapetyants also pointed to restrictions on opposition voices, alleging that the broadcaster limits their access, particularly ahead of elections.

“There are numerous cases where Public TV fails to operate within the legal framework established by the state, doing so with impunity before elections,” she said, adding that opposition groups are effectively excluded from meaningful visibility on the platform.

Karapetyants further claimed that the broadcaster predominantly features individuals supportive of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who are presented as neutral experts but later appear on ruling party electoral lists.

Protesters submitted a formal complaint to the Prosecutor General’s Office but expressed little confidence in an official response. Karapetyants emphasized the importance of initiating legal proceedings.

“Starting legal processes is crucial because we are a state governed by law,” she said. “We cannot allow the country to be controlled by a single group.”

She also raised concerns about violations of the rights of the Armenian Apostolic Church followers, citing their significant presence in society.