In the case of Georgia, the total number of tests performed is not available, so it is not possible to make an exact comparison. However, the available data shows that the number of tests in the neighboring country is not significantly different from in Armenia, in contrast to the prevalence of the infection.

On May 16, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presented about 100 new facts about Armenia for about two hours and answered journalists’ questions for more than three hours. Media.am singled out the manipulative statements made by journalists and the Prime Minister’s answers about the coronavirus, calls for violence and the political opposition.

Pashinyan did not remove the coronavirus with tweezers

Channel 5 asked Pashinyan why he accused the citizens of spreading the epidemic and doing so in the case “where you announced during the initial period of the spread of the coronavirus, ‘whose dog is the coronavirus,’ ‘we will take it out with tweezers” and “we will disinfect it with vodka.'”

Pashinyan said he did not remember making a statement about “removing with tweezers” and “disinfecting with a vodka.”

Pashinyan made such a statement in March during the referendum campaign. However, it did not apply to the coronavirus.

Pashinyan spoke about corrupt officials working in the state apparatus, he stated, “The coronavirus is not dangerous, they are the real coronavirus that is still destroying the organism of our state system. And we will take out the coronaviruses one by one with a pair of tweezers, disinfect them with homemade vodka and send off on their business.”

This phrase was presented in context by blognews.am, hayeli.am, YerevanToday and others.

The fight against violence and “smashing heads with stones”

Factor TV, covering the legislative struggle against speech containing a call for violence, asked Pashinyan whether there were no violent speeches in his statements. “Don’t you think that the use of the expressions ‘to spread on the asphalt,’  ‘to plaster to the walls,’ ‘teach a lesson,’ ‘to beat’ is not appropriate for the country’s highest authority?”

Pashinyan confessed that everyone, including himself, has work to do in this direction. He also said that not all of the mentioned expressions were used.

Out of these four expressions, Pashinyan did not use only the last one – “to beat.” The expression was widely circulated in the press in May last year. At that time, Jivan Abrahamyan, a supporter of Nikol Pashinyan, spoke at the rally he initiated about the “smashing of heads with stones” of the Artsakh authorities.

After this announcement, Abrahamyan was accused of being directed by Arthur Asatryan, Don Pipo. Don Pipo denied the allegations.

Jivan Abrahamyan also stands out as an active critic of Echmiadzin Mayor Diana Gasparyan. Gasparyan denied Abrahamyan’s accusations, who had organized protests against her. At the same time, Gasparyan announced the campaign launched by Don Pipo’s “hired activists” against her.

The connection between “Bright Armenia” and Mikael Minasyan

Para TV asked whether the Prime Minister had evidence to prove his accusation after the fight in the National Assembly that Edmon Marukyan had connections and was guided by the instructions of the former authorities and Mikael Minasyan.

Pashinyan said that so much has been said about that topic that he does not see the need to say anything new. And what was said?

On May 8, Lilit Makunts, the leader of the “My Step” faction, announced from the NA tribune that the behavior of the BAP and its leader had changed after the adoption of the “Law on confiscation of illegal property.” And that this faction brings to the National Assembly not the agenda of their party, but “the agenda of the incomprehensible hooligan groups outside the National Assembly.”

The comments on this topic of the government team are not factual but on an analytical level.

For example, the chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, “My Step” MP Ruben Rubinyan said that the BAP and “very specific circles connected with the former authorities” have been operating with the same logic lately, citing examples. He explained that cooperation is not always done by meeting and shaking hands.

NA Deputy Speaker Alen Simonyan offered to take from Marukyan’s “being an individual deputy” until the last voting and to make sure that Marukyan never gave Mikael Minasyan’s name in a bad context. He also studied how he voted for the laws, “which directly concern Mikael Minasyan and the previous government.”

Georgia-Armenia parallel: corona-numbers

Henaran.am asked why our index is 7 times worse in the Armenia-Georgia comparison? Is it because of Georgia’s false statistics, good luck, or, nevertheless, the quality of government work?

The Prime Minister said that it is necessary to look at how many tests are performed in Georgia. There can be differences in approaches and circumstances.

As of May 17, according to the Georgian Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 39,573 people were tested in Georgia. According to the Armenian Ministry of Health, 40,230 tests were performed in Armenia on the same day.

In the case of Georgia, the total number of tests performed is not available, so it is not possible to make an exact comparison. However, the available data shows that the number of tests in the neighboring country is not significantly different from in Armenia, in contrast to the prevalence of the infection.

Arshaluys Barseghyan, Karine Ghazaryan