Alen Simonian's Mother-in-Law's Newspaper Accusations Against the Prime Minister's Son-in-Law: The Latter Denies

MP Hrach Hakobyan has addressed the accusations made by the newspaper "Hraparak" in a Facebook post, alleging that the new bill he presented is a step against the media.

"The newspaper of the Prime Minister's former employee and Vice Speaker of the National Assembly Alen Simonian's mother-in-law considers my presented bill to be at least a step against the INDEPENDENCE of the media.

Clarifications:

1. The law is not only about prohibiting advertisements of betting companies in the media, but it is about completely RESTRICTING all types of advertisements of betting companies.
2. Furthermore, when, for example, external advertising (overhead crossings, street banners, bridges, elevators...) is prohibited altogether, I have initiated a meeting to discuss this issue with the media, and perhaps there will be restrictions on the volume of advertisements on websites, or time limitations in video formats, etc.
3. Yesterday, when I had a phone conversation with a journalist from Hraparak newspaper regarding this topic, I informed them at that moment that I am inviting their representative to today’s discussion as well. However, the article stated that they did not receive an invitation.
4. Just moments ago, a journalist from Hraparak called me and said that as far as they know, they received an invitation to today’s discussion, and they can participate. Although the invitation was either to the directors of the websites or to the heads of the advertising departments, I nonetheless agreed that a representative of Hraparak newspaper could be a journalist," he wrote.

"Hraparak" newspaper wrote: "With the initiative of the Prime Minister's son-in-law, MP Hrach Hakobyan, a legislative proposal was introduced in the previous National Assembly, which would prohibit advertising of betting companies on television and online platforms, which would have a significant financial impact on media outlets that are primarily funded by advertising, especially since in Armenia the economy is not developing, thus advertisers are mainly the betting companies.

This initiative can be viewed as a step against the independence of the media, and a protest is brewing in the media world. The draft is still in the working discussion phase; however, today the author organized a closed discussion in the National Assembly regarding the issue, showing a discriminatory approach and not inviting certain media outlets.

In any case, "Hraparak" did not receive an invitation. Moreover, even within the "My Step" faction, they were unaware that such a discussion has been initiated. Hrach Hakobyan justified himself by stating that his assistant invited the media; he does not know whom."