On April 16, the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia adopted the proposal of the Government to amend the Laws on Television and Radio and the Law on Advertising on the second reading. Unfortunately, the urgings and requests of the Armenian media did not have success, and the government, taking advantage of the declared emergency situation, hurriedly turned to a law the policy of restricting freedom of speech and bankrupting private TV companies.
“Media Advocate” Initiative warns that by making amendments on the Law on Television and Radio and the Law on Advertising and giving the Public Television the opportunity to enter the advertising market, the Armenian government sets a financial blow for private TV companies in the situation of financial and economic problems as a result of the new coronavirus. By this, it is providing part of the almost far gone advertising market flows to the Public Television and, in fact, depriving private TV’s from the ability to survive. And this is happening when only the Public Television, operating at the expense of taxpayers, does not have any financial issues, as it is a state-financed TV Company.
In fact, the Armenian government, by means of reforming the advertising market with a legislative tool, is pursuing a policy of bankrupting the media, as well as restricting the free operation of the media, and controlling it. The consequences of this policy will be destructive from the perspectives of freedom of speech and democracy, making the country to be part of authoritarian environment. This fact will soon be included in the reports of international organizations and will definitely reduce the rating of the Republic of Armenia as a state formation which considers democracy and freedom of speech as values of priority.
“Media Advocate” Initiative also alarms that by amending the Law on Television and Radio and the Law on Advertising, and by that move giving the Public Television the function of entering the advertising market, the Armenian government does nothing but creates new corruption risks ensuring a regression for the free media competition and the application of fair play rules.
