Group of Armenian politicians, public figures demand return of Public  TV to public 

ArmInfo.  A group of Armenian politicians and public figures issued a joint statement demanding the return of the country's Public Television to the public.  The statement, distributed by former director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Hayk Demoyan, reads, in part:

We, the undersigned representatives of various public and political  circles and organizations, declare that Public Television, created by  law to serve the public interest and ensure pluralism, has lost its  primary mission and, called upon to operate independently, has become  a propaganda tool serving the interests of the authorities. This  public media system, funded by taxes paid by citizens of the Republic  of Armenia, disrupts the balance of public opinion, distorts social  realities, and, contrary to the laws of the Republic of Armenia and  the norms of public morality, has become the ruling political force's  primary tool of influence.  The current situation directly  contradicts the clearly defined responsibilities of the Public  Broadcaster in the RA Law "On Audiovisual Mass Media" to guarantee  editorial independence, ensure political and ideological neutrality,  serve the public interest, and prohibit one-sided propaganda.  Participants of the roundtable discussion, titled "Returning the  Public to the Public," expressed their commitment to consistently  working to rectify the current unhealthy situation, both legally and  organizationally.

Public media cannot be a propaganda platform serving private  interests and viewpoints. We are convinced that Public Television and  Public Radio, while remaining true to their mission, are obligated to  ensure credibility and trust in society.

The statement was signed by Paruyr Hayrikyan, Hayk Demoyan, Vahe  Darbinyan, Garegin Chugaszyan, Zhanna Aleksanyan, the NGO  "Journalists for Human Rights," Larisa Alaverdyan, Nina Karapetyants,  Susanna Muradyan, and others.