ARMENIAN OMBUDSMAN: THE PROCESS OF CUSTOMS CLEARANCE OF GALA TV COMPANY’S NEW EQUIPMENT IS BEING ARTIFICIALLY DELAYED

ArmInfo
2010-04-13 18:00:00

ArmInfo. The process of customs clearance of the new equipment of
GALA, TV company owned by ChAP LLC, is being artificially delayed
even though the company has met all of its documentary obligations,
says the statement addressed by Armenian Ombudsman Armen Haroutyunyan
to Chairman of State Income Committee Gagik Khachatryan.

The statement says that, in response to the request of ChAP Director
K.Karapetyan, the Head of Shirak Territorial Customs Office said
that the process was suspended on the basis of a report by Gyumri
Territorial Tax Inspection.

The Ombudsman wants to know what law the Shirak Territorial Customs
Office was based on when passing the decision. "If there is no such
law, you should take measures to restore the rights of the company
and should inform me of the results," says the Ombudsman.

Armenian mass media say that the possible reason for such treatment
might be the events of 2007 when GALA broadcasted one of the speeches
of then presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrossyan. After that the
company faced tax avoidance charges. Director of GALA Vahan Khachatryan
says that these charges have political implication. GALA is in very
tense relations with the Municipality of Gyumri.