ArmInfo.Armenia's Television and Radio Commission issued a statement in connection with the scandalous television piece about Hrayr Tovmsyan, released on the Public Television Channel on January 29 in the "News" program.
Given the criticism of the Commission, its representatives examined this report and decided to make a statement. In particular, the statement notes: "The Commission reiterates that it is not authorized to intervene in the content policy of the public broadcaster, as well as other private broadcasters.
At the same time, the commission shares the position of the Ombudsman that this television piece violated the principle of the presumption of innocence, the requirement of which applies to everyone, including the media. However, we consider it necessary to state that in this case the SIS bears the primary responsibility for violation of the above principle, "the statement emphasizes.
It is also noted that the violation of the principle of the presumption of innocence is not regulated by the Television and Radio Law and does not provide for the imposition of a fine or other punishment. "We would like to remind you that the Commission has repeatedly drawn the attention of executive and legislative bodies and the public to the fact that these and similar gaps in the legislation (in many other countries these issues are regulated by law) reduce the Commission's ability to regulate and limit the right of citizens to obtaining objective and impartial information, "the statement says.
The Commission also regretted that violations of the presumption of innocence, as well as the principles of impartiality of information, diversity of opinion, right of reply, and journalistic behavior are more common among private broadcasters, however, such behavior does not receive political or public attention.
"We express concern that the Council of Public Television and Radio refused to provide its explanations to the public in connection with the above mentioned video. Since, according to the law, it is the Council that is responsible for the program policy, as well as for observing the rules of professional conduct for journalists. Thus, the Council was obliged to investigate cases of violation of the rules of professional conduct of journalists on the basis of complaints or on their own initiative.
Therefore, in cases of public appeal, the Council is obliged to respond, maintain constant communication with the public, "the statement of the commission notes. Regarding the allegations of some persons, including the adviser to the Presidentof the Constitutional Court of Armenia, to the Commission, its representatives stated:" The Commission notes that it is an independent state body, and the adviser to the President of the Constitutional Court should know that before such public statements as "the Commission performs its functions poorly" walk was to compare the current work of the Commission to the fact that it was before. Or, clearly articulate the norms stipulated by the Commission, according to which it was obliged to bring to responsibility the program of the Public Television Company. Moreover, the adviser is obliged to comply with the standards of conduct of a public servant provided for by law, " the statement notes.
It should be noted that on January 29 a broadcast about the new details revealed by the SIS regarding the head of the Constitutional Court Hrayr Tovmasyan was broadcast on the Public TV channel on the News program. In turn, on the same evening, Tovmasyan's lawyers circulated a statement accusing the country's television channel of disseminating investigation materials, as well as of flagrant violation of the presumption of innocence.
In turn, the Media Defender initiative also condemned the unilateral propaganda information policy of the state-owned television channel, existing at the expense of taxpayers. Representatives of the initiative demanded that the Commission on Television and Radio of RA "immediately stop its disgraceful information policy."