Armenian businessman claims abuse of power by TV and Radio boss

Arminfo
15 Feb 05

Yerevan, 15 February: “I shall not be a victim of corruption or
be under chairman of the Armenian National Commission for TV and
Radio [NCTR] Grigor Amalyan’s thumb or pay a fine demanded by the
commission,” the president of the company Grand Holding has told an
Arminfo correspondent. Grant Vardanyan is financing Armenia’s only
non-commercial children TV channel.

In this connection the entrepreneur did not rule out the possibility of
some extreme measures, including the closure of Hayrenik TV, fined by
the commission. At the same time he stressed that he has no intention
to stop rebroadcasting of French Mezzo musical TV channel. Vardanyan
noted that the management of French TV channel is aware of the fact
that Hayrenik TV is rebroadcasting its programmes and has no claims
in this connection.

The interlocutor said that Hayrenik TV is being fully financed by
Grand Holding and the company annually spends about 250,000 dollars
on its upkeep. Vardanyan also noted that the chairman of the NCTR
took under his control the sale of the licensed films in the country
and by lobbying for his personal economic interests and by forcing
the TV channels to abandon the rebroadcasting of foreign programmes,
he abuses power.

“Let Amalyan improve control over the implementation of the law
on advertising, violated by almost all domestic TV channels,” the
entrepreneur said.

To recap, the NCTR imposed the fine on Hayrenik TV to the tune of
200 minimum salaries for the unlicensed rebroadcasting programmes of
France’s Mezzo TV. The chairman of the commission said he intends
to appeal against the decision.