On February 10 the statement of the RA Human Rights Defender Armen Harutiunian
was released that expressed his concern with the quality of TV series and advertising,
aired by the Public Television of Armenia and the private broadcasters. The
Ombudsman is particularly concerned with “their negative influence on the adolescents
in the stage of formation”. The statement of Armen Harutiunian notes that the
low-class soap operas promote life by criminal laws, do not observe the language
standards and moral norms, use street jargon and swearwords. The Ombudsman was
equally worried about the “TV films abundant in violence that are accompanied
by psychological terror, disrupt the value system, based on human dignity”.
In the opinion of Armen Harutiunian such films and low-quality commercials instead
of a positive moral impact make a contrary effect on the adolescents. The RA
Human Rights Defender concluded the statement by making an appeal to the broadcasters
and the National Commission on Television and Radio as a regulatory body to
take steps to improve the situation on air.
