Armenia: Public TV chief resigns after PM’s live speech rehearsal leaksApril 20, 2020 - 19:13 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Executive Director of Armenia’s Public TV Company has resigned amid a scandal which began after footage from the dress rehearsal of a live speech from Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan leaked online. Pashinyan addressed the nation live on Friday, April 17 in which he summarized the government’s projects aimed at easing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy. But footage from the dress rehearsal leaked online just hours after the live broadcast, which showed the Prime Minister coughing and preparing for the message. Pashinyan’s office was quick to demand an explanation from the Public TV Company, which was filming and transmitting his address, but the TV station revealed that eight other stations had access to the dress rehearsal and the live broadcast, as demanded by the Prime Minister’s staff. The Public TV said the Prime Minister should have been warned by his staff that they were already filming, but that his spokesperson failed to do so due to miscommunication. As a result, Margarita Grigoryan, Executive Director of the Public Television of Armenia, submitted her resignation on Monday. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Turkey extends military presence in Azerbaijan The Turkish parliament has adopted a bill submitted by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to extend the mandate of Turkish troops. Russia to begin assessing migrant workers' speaking skills Rosobrnadzor is planning to change the Russian language exam for migrant workers and include an assessment of speaking skills Armenian, Saudi Foreign Minister meet in Riyadh The two commended the positive dynamics of the development of political dialogue between Armenia and Saudi Arabia Pashinyan: Azerbaijan’s proximity shouldn’t worry border residents At the same time, he said that he “does not guarantee [the security of villagers] one hundred percent”. |