SOS TV is temporarily suspending its activities. SOS TV founder, Hayk Barseghyan announced this on Facebook in a live broadcast.

He explains that after the revolution, a part of the audience had accused them of criticizing Nikol Pashinyan, mentioning that they have personal interests and goals or are “pouring water into the Republican Party’s mill.”

The SOS team decided to stop working temporarily.

“SOS is, first of all, our platform for self-expression. And a situation was created where when we say what is in line with public opinion, everything is normal, otherwise we have a problem even bringing up our message. Since society is guided by the logic of the majority, an opposing opinion will not only be ignored, but will be opposed,” said Hayk.

He said that they have no issues with warning people, they simply decided to “retreat and stand to the side in order to understand the situation and so as not to help or harm any one of the political forces.”

Before making the decision, the SOS team conducted a survey regarding the situation on their page. The comments received made the team face a decision, either continue their activities but not achieve getting the word out, or temporarily retreat.

“People tell us that now is not the time to criticize, and we think that now is exactly the time. No matter what we say now, we understand that we are talking to a wall. We have to wait for the end of the elections in order for society to be freed from stereotypes,” said Hayk Barseghyan.

According to him, their retreat can also be considered a form of self-censorship, bt at the moment it is the only right decision.

Hayk also speaks about the second reason for SOS’s temporary break.

“We have many close friends who are participating in the parliamentary elections. I have received many requests to advertise them on our page. Although I agree with them, but in terms of professionalism, I have no right to be impartial. And in order to avoid causing harm or upsetting people, we have decided to stand to the side.”

After the elections SOS will resume its activities, and from that moment, as Hayk says, they will pass “cruel criticism.”

“We will find all possible facts to criticize, regardless of who will be in power. After the elections, our audience can no longer say that we are pouring water in the RPA mill. We will continue to work and criticize the authorities, including our friends working in the circles of power, as we had worked before, because we believe that is the way to have a normal country.”

This temporary decision can have an impact on the audience growth of SOS, but, according to Hayk, they have no issue of losing an audience, as the conscientious part of their audience will remain the same. He is convinced that people have understood his arguments.

Anahit Danielyan