In one of the episodes of the “Corruption 2: Compensation” TV series broadcasted on Yerkir Media TV, they talk about transgender people in a derogatory and humiliating way.

In this episode, Gor Vardanyan acts as a police officer and shows a video with the participation of transgender people to the other people, who are represented as the Head of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia and the Poilice Chief, then, calling trans people “dregs”, he mentions that trans people should be kept in prison and beaten, a number of insulting and humiliating words are used, which disrupts the dignified life, security and well-being of trans people.

The Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO has submitted complaints to the Human Rights Defender’s Office of the Republic of Armenia, the Commission on TV and Radio of Armenia to remove the series, which intensifies public hatred towards transgender people.

 It should be noted that in the mentioned series swear words, slang words, scenes of discrimination, humiliation and violence are used.

According to Resolution No. 109 A of the Commission on TV and Radio of Armenia of July 1, 2021 “On defining the criteria for determining audio-visual programs that may have a negative impact on the health, mental and physical development of minors”, audiovisual media service providers should be guided by the established principles. 

At the same time, the propaganda of violence and discrimination against certain groups of the society, contradicts universal values, the idea established by the RA Constitution that a person is the highest value in Armenia. Programs with such content increase hatred towards Trans LGBIQ people even more and they are aimed at the polarization of the society.

The Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO will be responsive to this and other hate-mongering programs to prevent the spread of hatred and violence among the public.

We will provide additional information about the process later.

June 07, 2022 Armenia, Yerevan