Reading the reactions of my Russian colleagues to my statement today that it is time to seriously discuss the issue of stopping the broadcasting of Russian TV channels in Armenia, I involuntarily ask myself a simple but important question: does not any of these respected people ask themselves why? The speaker of the Armenian parliament, Alen Simonyan, wrote this in Russian on social media.

“Or does it really seem to anyone that by repeating the memorized phrases about the ‘influence of Western structures’, ‘violations of human rights’, and ‘the centuries-old friendship between Russia and Armenia, which someone is trying to destroy’, one can once again cross oneself, mention Ukraine, and stretch this old, long-worn rubber band to the Armenian context.

In fact, there is no need to look for anything or anyone.

There is no need to invent culprits. It is enough to just turn on the TV.

Since the best people to solve the ‘problem of ruining Russian-Armenian relations’ are not Western intelligence agencies, mythical agents or NGOs, but some Russian state TV channels, journalists, and editors.

When:

– Russian state TV channels insult the elected authorities of Armenia with the most offensive words, sometimes with outright obscenity,

– systematically pit the Armenian public against their own authorities, forgetting that our authorities are elected through direct and free elections,

– question the sovereignty, independence, and even the existence of the Republic of Armenia,

– call for going out to demonstrations, noting the date, time and place, in fact speaking out against the current constitutional order [in Armenia],

– openly condemn the actions of Armenian law enforcement officers who enforce the laws of their country,

– and interfere in all spheres of Armenia’s internal life, from political processes to national symbols.

I suggest my Moscow colleagues imagine the opposite situation for at least a minute.

What would you say if on the state TV channels of Armenia:

– the presenters insulted Russia’s president and leadership,

– discussed the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation and declared that ‘Russia should not exist’,

– broadcast reports of a special military operation criticizing the actions of the Russian army,

– analyzed the criminal cases initiated against Russian citizens.

Yes, yes, esteemed [Russian] politicians, senators, TV presenters, MPs, commentators, and publicists.

This is what is poured into the heads of our citizens every day from the screens of Russian TV channels.

This is what is actually destroying Russian-Armenian relations—not the West and, certainly, not the Armenian people or politicians.

So, instead of the usual clichés and witch hunts, try to finally ask yourself one, but an honest question:

Why?

And not: Who?

This must stop.

"Either you stop it, or we will," added the speaker of the Armenian parliament.