Zakharova is lying: Major Western media have covered the ongoing protests in Yerevan

Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, claimed during the May 15 briefing that “the Western media cover the protests taking place in Georgia, but, at the same time, they are silent about the protests taking place in Armenia.”

“We see that literally, as if instructed, the American and European media are doing everything to promote the demonstrations in Georgia. However, as for the protests taking place in Armenia, the Western mainstream media literally bypass them, pretending that nothing is happening there,” Zakharova said.

The Fact Investigation Platform studied the Western media coverage of the protests taking place in Armenia.

Thus, the British Reuters international news agency, referring to the rally held in Yerevan on May 9, writes: “A big crowd of protesters gathered in the Armenian capital Yerevan on Thursday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over his decision to cede several border villages to neighbour and longtime rival Azerbaijan.”

Later, on May 13, Reuters wrote that protesters were detained by the police.

The American Associated Press news agency covered both the May 9 and May 10 rallies.

“Thousands of protesters in Armenia angered by the government’s decision to hand over control of some border villages to Azerbaijan demonstrated on Friday in the center of the Armenian capital for a second day to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan,” the news agency wrote referring to the May 10 rally.

The Washington Post, ABC News and U.S.News also covered the protests, referring to the Associated Press.

The German Deutsche Welle wrote on May 13: “Armenian police on Monday said they had detained at least 88 people who were attempting to block streets in the country’s capital in protests at government plans to concede land to Azerbaijan.”

Agence France Press, Le Monde, Politico, Fox News, Euronews, France24, Eurasianet and other media also referred to the protests.

Thus, dozens of major Western media covered the protests led by “Tavush for the Motherland” movement in Yerevan. Hence, Zakharova’s claim that the Western media cover the protests in Georgia but are “silent about the protests in Armenia” is false.

Syuzanna Hambardzumyan