It is with great sadness that EED has learned of the passing of Karine Harutyunyan. EED had the honour of working with Karine for almost a decade. Karine was a visionary, who constantly adapted and reinvented herself and her work. Her work and commitment to her local community were a constant throughout her life.
Karine was the outstanding former chief editor of Gala TV and the founder of Region TV, in Gyumri Armenia. She worked to promote social justice and to empower vulnerable people. A leader in the media sector, she was committed to strengthen the collective voice of regional media in Armenia. Her vision was to ensure that every citizen could have access to a credible media and have their daily struggles acknowledged and addressed.
Karine's role as a female leader in her hometown of Gyumri cannot be underestimated. As a schoolteacher, Karine devoted her energies to her community and to help them recover from the effects of long-standing trauma after the1988 Spitak earthquake.
She and her Gala TV partner faced significant threats in the early 2000s, yet she continued to work, driven by the deep desire to protect freedom of speech and to push for accountability. After the 2018 Velvet Revolution, Karine and ther team worked hard to cover the historic moment of change and they continued to hold the new government to account.
Karine rose to all these challenges with her deep sense of humanity, inner courage, and never-ending kindness, for which she will be deeply missed.
“I met her on numerous occasions it was always inspiring and refreshing experience. Her passion and creativity moved people to change world for better.” says EED Executive Director Jerzy Pomianowski.
EED is grateful to have had the chance to know Karine and work with her so closely. We are confident that her legacy will remain within those she has inspired and within Armenia's media community.
