TAX LEVERS ON THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH

A1+
[02:42 pm] 13 November, 2007

"Latest developments around "GALA" TV Channel in Gyumri and freedom
of speech are incompatible in Armenia", said of the central office
of civil initiatives in the press release on putting forward Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s candidature during the presidential elections.

The RA governmental bodies, headed by the RA Tax Service persecute
"GALA" TV station for broadcasting Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s 21 September
speech and elucidating 26 October gathering in the Liberty Square
in Yerevan.

"The Governmental system feels that new TV Channels in Armenia want
to get rid of authorities’ censorship and by persecuting "GALA" they
want to frighten other TV stations as well", said the press release,
supporting "GALA" TV Channel, journalists for committing professional
duties, declaring that they will take all possible measures to protect
their constitutional right of freedom of speech. "We appeal to all
mass media in Armenia not to yield in pressures and to commit them
to providing the public with objective information".

It should be reminded that the State Tax Service has completed the
checking-up at "GALA" TV Channel in Gyumri and will send the results
to the Prosecutor’s Office.

According to the press release of the department of public relations
of the State Tax Service, in the result of budget check-up at "GALA"
TV Channel it was found out that started from 2005 September till 2007
September the company has concealed the real income for advertising
services avoiding paying state taxes.