[…] These are practices that were upheld during Soviet times and they are being revived despite the fact that Armenia is supposedly a democratic state. […] Plenty of deputies turned up to vote it seems, with the bill passing 65-3. Eight deputies chose to abstain from voting. This law is a blow to all things considered comprising a true democracy. Armenia seems to be regressing rather than moving forward in this sphere. Television stations for example are receiving warnings from the government to categorically refrain broadcasting any coverage of events where Levon Ter-Petrosian, the former egocentric Armenian president, speaks in public.

[…]

I understand the need to stamp out illegal activities for example in the form of theft, conspiracy again the state, or to be imaginative would-be assassination plots, and so forth. But people are not stupid enough to talk about such matters from their homes, anyway.

http://noteshairenik.blogspot.com/2007/10/deterrent-to-democracy.html

Yesterday I’ve hold a discussion with camrades markgrigorian and david_sand on the issues of reported pressure on TV channels on the issue of airing October 26 rally announcements. One of my key arguments was, that no broadcaster have made public statement on pressure issues, so while it is not made loud - it does not exist.
Today I’ve seen a material, where head of small regional TV station is telling about the pressure he have faced shortly after airing LTP’s speech in full.
I dislike LTP, his policy, his ideas, his team, I honestly reckon, that LTP’s possible return will become the biggest disaster, that Armenia may have.
But I have to express my full respect to this guy - Vahan Khachatryan, my hat is off to you!

http://uzogh.livejournal.com/107013.html