ArmInfo. Jirayr Sefilyan, hero of the Karabakh war, who is currently imprisoned on charges of illegally storing and using weapons, issued a statement in which he demanded that the RA authorities cease broadcasting of Russian TV channels in Armenia.
In particular, the statement says: "The signing of the Comprehensive and Expanded Partnership Agreement with the European Union caused a wave of anti-Armenian hysteria in the Russian media, especially on television, which was characterized by groundless accusations, insulting and humiliating comparisons and parallels, questioned the sovereignty of Armenia. We consider unacceptable any encroachment on our sovereignty, as well as national and human dignity.
Permanent national discrimination, chauvinism against the independent republics of the former Soviet Union, this is what propagates these channels, and some of them are violating the norms of ethics. Therefore, we demand the termination of the license for broadcasting of the RTR-Planeta, First Channel, Mir, NTV, Zvezda and Ren TV channels for systematic slanderous attacks on the constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia. We urge the public to join this demand and boycott the mentioned channels," the statement said.
After the signing of the Agreement on an expanded and comprehensive partnership with the EU in the Russian media, an anti-Armenian campaign was launched. Armenia was accused of betraying allied relations with Russia, compared with an unfaithful wife who betrayed her loving husband at the first opportunity, began to draw parallels between the fascist symbols and the symbols of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia. All this caused negative public and political resonance in Armenia. Leader of the opposition movement "New Armenia", Jirayr Sefilyan in September 2017 published a list of 31 figures called "The list of rescuers of the nation" which included people who, in his opinion, could unite, consolidate the people and implement a change of power in the name of saving the country. He stated that Serzh Sargsyan is pursuing a colonial and genocidal policy and at such rates the country will soon collapse. The list of Jirayr Sefilyan includes former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, leader of the Elk faction Nikol Pashinyan, leader of the Zharangutyun party Raffi Hovhannisyan, political expert, head of the public organization Modus Vivendi Ara Papyan and others.