Monday, December 25 2023 17:52

ArmInfo. The Commission on Television and Radio of Armenia responded to the statement of the Russian Embassy to Armenia in connection with the decision to suspend broadcasting of Sputnik Armenia radio.

In its statement, the Russian diplomatic corps expresses regret over the Regulator's verdict, which restricts "the unconditional right of the Armenian listener to receive information from a source of his choice." The Embassy also regards the Commission's decision as a concession "to those who are increasingly in favor of breaking the traditional, mutually beneficial and mutually respectful allied relations between Russia and Armenia."

In connection with the abovementioned comment from the Embassy, the Commission decided to provide further clarification regarding its decision.

The source says that by its  decision of December 20 this year, the Commission, suspended broadcasting license of Radio Tospa CJSC for 30 days the (but not Radio Sputnik Armenia, which is not subject to the regulatory functions of the Commission and continues to broadcast on all media platforms in Armenia except for the public multiplex).

"Having received a license to broadcast in a limited frequency resource in 2017, Radio Tospa thereby pledged to strictly comply with both the legislation of the Republic of Armenia and the obligations assumed by the license agreement. However, the content of the "Friday with Tigran Keosayan" TV program rebroadcast by Radio Tospa repeatedly and grossly violated both Armenian legislation and came into clear conflict with the "traditional, mutually respectful allied relations between Russia and Armenia" mentioned in the Embassy's commentary.

The Commission, within the framework of its constitutional powers, ensured and ensures 'the unconditional right of the Armenian listener to receive information from a source of his choice.' However, filled with "hate speech", threats, disinformation, barely camouflaged calls for violence, the monologues of the host of the "Friday with Tigran Keosayan" TV program, the lack of elementary respect in them for the allied country, its people and leadership, even with great imagination, can hardly be considered 'a source of information'." It is especially upsetting that such content is broadcast a Russian state media organization," the statement says.

The commission also noted with regret the reaction of the management of Sputnik radio and Russia Today International news agency to the decision of the Armenian regulator. The source notes that Instead of appropriate in such situations, if not apologies, then at least expressions of readiness through constructive dialogue to exclude such incidents in the future, those responsible for the editorial policy of Radio Sputnik limited themselves to incorrect statements addressed to "allied Armenia" and accusations of the Armenian leadership and the regulator of "suppression of freedom of speech".

On December 20, the Commission on Television and Radio decided to deprive Sputnik Armenia radio of the airwaves for a month. Regulator revoked the license of the rebroadcasting transmitter, Tospa radio station, for 30 days. In another decision, the commission fined the rebroadcasting transmitter 500 thousand drams. The second decision refers to imposing a fine for the author's program of former MP Arman Abovyan - Abovyan Time. In this case, the commission noticed statements that are "spreading panic" and are based on unverified and unreliable sources.