Local TV stations broadcasting from Armenia’s southernmost province, Syunik, have practically no election coverage.

Presidential candidates’ visits to Syunik were covered only by Kapan’s Sosi TV station. None of the province’s TV stations broadcasts ads paid by candidates or political parties. 

Sisian’s Sisak TV’s Ditak news program is broadcast once a week, on Fridays, and covers only local news. There is no election campaign coverage.

Goris’ Last TV doesn’t cover the visits of campaigning presidential candidates. The TV station’s director, Alvard Mesropyan, says the station informed viewers beforehand that it won’t be covering the election.

Also not covering the presidential election is Kapan’s Khustup cable TV. The TV station’s director and chief editor, Sasun Manukyan, says the station didn’t decide the cost of paid advertising beforehand, assuming there won’t be a demand. 

“The election of Armenia’s president is carried out in the entire country; consequently, the entire country is one precinct. We just work in one city, and candidates prefer national news outlets,” he says.  

Also absent from Khustup’s airwaves are news programs and paid statements about the presidential candidates’ visits.

“We clearly decided that we’re not participating in this process. We are happy to reserve participation and responsibility for our colleagues at national news outlets,” says Manukyan. 

In Syunik province, it’s only Sosi TV that has regional coverage that is covering the presidential election. The TV station’s news program reports on presidential candidates who have visited the province as part of their campaign tour.

There are also reports on news and developments of other candidates who haven’t visited Syunik.

Sosi TV, however, also doesn’t broadcast paid political advertising. The TV station’s director, Vahe Sargsyan, notes that the station didn’t make an announcement about its fees, as no one expressed interest in advertising with them beforehand. 

As for the voting public, Syunik residents, they keep up to date with election coverage and watch candidates’ promotional ads mainly on national TV stations.

Meri Soghomonyan, Kapan