Armenian deputy speaker condemns media’s tragicomic decline

Armenian Parliament Deputy Speaker Ruben Rubinyan accused an Armenian radio station of misleading the public by presenting images of burned grass as destroyed forests, calling it part of the tragicomic decline of Armenian journalism.

Ruben Rubinyan stated that Radio Azatutyun had decided to disgrace itself completely, suggesting that the station was clearly envious of the fame of Channel 5, 168.am, and Hraparak, Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media.

He noted that the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that in the already extinguished fires, trees were mostly unharmed, but apparently, this did not suit Azatutyun.

According to Rubinyan, photos of scorched dry grass in non-forested areas were being portrayed as burned forests of Dilijan, and he added that the tragicomic decline of Armenian journalism continues.

Armenia continues to face serious challenges in press freedom: according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), despite pluralistic media, independent outlets remain under pressure from political and commercial interests.

Azatutyun is widely regarded as among the few independent and relatively balanced media outlets in Armenia, offering multilingual and investigative reporting on sensitive topics like corruption, foreign influence, human rights, and regional geopolitics.

The mounting pressure comes amid broader concerns over legislation that could curb media freedom: in May 2025, Armenia’s Ministry of Justice drafted amendments that would require online media to remove content deemed “slanderous” by authorities — a move condemned by editors and reporters as a potential tool for censorship.

By Jeyhun Aghazada