Monday, February 3 2020 18:10

ArmInfo.Armenia's Television and Radio Commission issued a statement in connection with the scandalous television piece about Hrayr Tovmsyan, released on the Public  Television Channel on January 29 in the "News" program.

Given the criticism of the Commission, its representatives examined  this report and decided to make a statement. In particular, the  statement notes: "The Commission reiterates that it is not authorized  to intervene in the content policy of the public broadcaster, as well  as other private broadcasters.

At the same time, the commission shares the position of the Ombudsman  that this television piece violated the principle of the presumption  of innocence, the requirement of which applies to everyone, including  the media. However, we consider it necessary to state that in this  case the SIS bears the primary responsibility for violation of the  above principle, "the statement emphasizes.

It is also noted that the violation of the principle of the  presumption of innocence is not regulated by the Television and Radio  Law and does not provide for the imposition of a fine or other  punishment. "We would like to remind you that the Commission has  repeatedly drawn the attention of executive and legislative bodies  and the public to the fact that these and similar gaps in the  legislation (in many other countries these issues are regulated by  law) reduce the Commission's ability to regulate and limit the right  of citizens to obtaining objective and impartial information, "the  statement says.

The Commission also regretted that violations of the presumption of  innocence, as well as the principles of impartiality of information,  diversity of opinion, right of reply, and journalistic behavior are  more common among private broadcasters, however, such behavior does  not receive political or public attention. 

"We express concern that the Council of Public Television and Radio  refused to provide its explanations to the public in connection with  the above mentioned video. Since, according to the law, it is the  Council that is responsible for the program policy, as well as for  observing the rules of professional conduct for journalists. Thus,  the Council was obliged to investigate cases of violation of the  rules of professional conduct of journalists on the basis of  complaints or on their own initiative.

Therefore, in cases of public appeal, the Council is obliged to  respond, maintain constant communication with the public, "the  statement of the commission notes. Regarding the allegations of some  persons, including the adviser to the Presidentof the Constitutional  Court of Armenia, to the Commission, its representatives stated:" The  Commission notes that it is an independent state body, and the  adviser to the President of the Constitutional Court should know that  before such public statements as "the Commission performs its  functions poorly" walk was to compare the current work of the  Commission to the fact that it was before. Or, clearly articulate the  norms stipulated by the Commission, according to which it was obliged  to bring to responsibility the program of the Public Television  Company. Moreover, the adviser is obliged to comply with the  standards of conduct of a public servant provided for by law, " the  statement notes.

It should be noted that on January 29 a broadcast about the new  details revealed by the SIS regarding the head of the Constitutional  Court Hrayr Tovmasyan was broadcast on the Public TV channel on the  News program. In turn, on the same evening, Tovmasyan's lawyers  circulated a statement accusing the country's television channel of  disseminating investigation materials, as well as of flagrant  violation of the presumption of innocence.

In turn, the Media Defender initiative also condemned the unilateral  propaganda information policy of the state-owned television channel,  existing at the expense of taxpayers. Representatives of the  initiative demanded that the Commission on Television and Radio of RA  "immediately stop its disgraceful information policy."