ARMENIAN TV STATION MAY BE PERMITTED TO RETURN TO AIR

International Journalist’s Network
July 11 2008

Region :Eastern Europe-Central Eurasia
Country :Armenia
Topic :Television

Several media organizations are calling for the Armenian government
to allow the pro-opposition television broadcast channel A1+ to resume
their broadcasting after the European Court for Human Rights declared
that it should return to the airwaves in Armenia.

Last month the European Court for Human Rights claimed that the
Armenian government violated freedom of expression rights by denying
A1+, which is owned by the private Meltex Company, a license.

The Meltex Chairman Mesrop Movsesian, however, said the court ruling
does not guarantee that the TV station will return to the air.

According to Movsesian, the ruling merely provides an opportunity for
the station to bid on available broadcasting frequencies this fall,
when several broadcast licenses will expire.