Robert Kocharian Buys Armenian Media Outlets

Yerevan / 08/22/18 / Turan: Ex-President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, being under investigation, has decided to become a media tycoon.

As the Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper reported, referring to social networks, Kocharyan has already bought Ararat and ArmNews TV companies, as well as the information websites BlogNews.am, News.am and Panorama.am.

According to the newspaper, Kocharyan seeks to form a favorable public opinion through these media. He expressed the decision to acquire these media when he was arrested due to the March 1 case.

The National Commission for TV and Radio of Armenia confirmed that on August 10, 2018, Ararat TV Company passed under the control of the pro-Kocharyan businessman Armen Tavadyan. The latter is considered one of Kocharyan's associates and has a stake in Ardshinbank connected with Kocharyan's family.

The second Armenian TV channel and the website Yerevan.today are also connected with Robert Kocharyan. The co-owner of this channel is Samvel Mayrapetian, a businessman loyal to Kocharyan, who also manages the Toyota-Yerevan company, which belongs to Kocharyan's sons.

As for the News.am website, the editor-in-chief Armenika Kiviryan avoided answering the question about changing the owner of the website.

The Blognews.am and Panorama.am websites belong to the members of the Republican Party - the former ruling party of Armenia.

According to Haykakan Zhamanak - a newspaper headed by the wife of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, by these methods Kocharyan will not be able to form a favorable public opinion and escape responsibility. -02D-