Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s preferred media is Facebook Live. This tool was effective during the days of the Velvet Revolution and it became even more influential after the revolution. The audience of the Armenian Prime Minister’s Facebook page grew ten times in that month.
Yesterday, Nikol Pashinyan did not choose the option of communicating via a Facebook video. He opted to post a status, received thousands of comments, which, unlike the Prime Minister’s previous live press conference videos, remained unanswered.
The post was about the work of television.
“Some TV companies, in fact, taking advantage of the unrestricted freedom of speech, and have decided to implement anti-state propaganda.
This is perhaps one of those cases, when the goodness of those in power is repeatedly confused with weakness or naivety. Do not do it. Simply do not do it.”
Arman Yeghoyan, spokesperson for the Prime Minister, told media.am that “The Prime Minister’s post is in the context of daily contact with citizens. It is a call and not an action. The call has already reached its addressee or addressees.”
The spokesperson doesn’t give substantial comments on the Prime Minister’s Facebook post.
If Nikol Pashinyan used these words during a Facebook Live, maybe a few questions would have been answered that would help to understand, especially what he meant and for whom.
Otherwise, it turns out that it is a call to do something that is incomprehensible.
a.) Which television companies are we talking about? When you do not target your message and appeal to everyone, it means that you want everyone to make conclusions. Well, so that next time you don’t need to repeat yourself.
b.) What does anti-state propaganda mean? Where is anti-state propaganda defined? Who decides what is considered anti-state, what is pro-state? The prefix “anti” is associated with unpleasant historical memories.
c.) What does “Do not do it. Simply do not do it,” mean? An attempt at lovingly wagging your finger? Giving a last warning? A threat?
d.) What will happen if they do it, simply do it? Though it is not clear as to who and what, but what if they do the corresponding actions as per the opinion of the Prime Minister, what will the Prime Minister do?
Gegham Vardanyan
