Armenia seeks to amend agreement on broadcasting of Russian TV channels
YEREVAN, April 15. /ARKA/. Armenia's High-Tech Industry Ministry will soon send new proposals to the Russian Federation regarding broadcasting of Russian TV channels in Armenia.
Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan said today that the current agreement does not stipulate clear sanctions for violations of a relevant Russian-Armenian agreement. He added that during consultations with the Russian side there were disagreements on what is a violation, what sanctions may follow, and whether it is not a restriction of freedom of speech.
At the same time, the Minister stated that there is no task to close any TV channels or programs. The question is about observance of the legislation, protection of honor and dignity of Armenia.
Hayrapetyan said if their proposals are not accepted Armenia may consider terminating the agreement.
On December 20, 2023, the Armenian Commission on Television and Radio suspended for 30 days the license of the Russian Sputnik Armenia radio.
Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with France 24 that Russian TV channels had been conducting propaganda against the elected government of the Republic of Armenia and personally against him for almost 6 years.
The Armenian government recently blocked political talk shows broadcast in the country by a Russian state-run TV channels after their host Vladimir Solovyov repeatedly criticized the policies of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
According to the Armenian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network, the daily talk-shows systematically violated a 2020 Russian-Armenian agreement that allowed the Rossiya-1 channel to retain its place in Armenia's national digital package available to viewers across the country
In late October 2023 Armenia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russia’s ambassador to Yerevan Sergey Kopyrkin to hand a note of protest over "insulting and absolutely unacceptable statements" made during a TV program aired by Russia’s Channel One.
A talk show on Russia's Channel One criticized Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for his handling of the conflict with Azerbaijan, portraying him as a puppet of the West who seeks to break Armenia's close relations with Russia.
Russia’s Channel One, Kultura and RTR-Planeta are rebroadcast in Armenia through the public multiplex. The interstate TV channel Mir, headquartered in Moscow, also broadcasts in Armenia. - 0-
