Karapetyan claims he is not imaginary oppositionist
ALM Holding, a TV company run by television pundit and leader of People's Party Tigran Karapetyan, intends to file legal action against the National Commission for Television and Radio (NCTR) against NCTR's decision to take the channel off the air.
ALM lost its broadcasting license in December in a supposedly competitive tender administered by the state regulator. By the decision, the channel will have to discontinue broadcasts by the end of this month.
The 84 employees of ALM Holding will not return to work after January 20.
"The decision to file a lawsuit against the National Commission for Television and Radio was taken by the staff. I am not going to sue anyone, I have chosen the way of struggling which is more fruitful than the fuss in courts," Tigran Karapetyan told a press service on January 14.
He believes that the NCTR's decision to deny his channel a broadcast license was politically motivated.
"The government hatched a conspiracy against ALM, since they could not endure the channel's acute and fair criticism. The same fate is awaitng anyone who will dare to speak straightforwardly and honestly," said Mr. Karapetyan.
The head of ALM Holding is outraged that the authorities are trying to present him as an imaginary opposition in the upcoming elections.
In response to a "Kentron" reporter, Karapetyan said, "It refers to you. The owner of your TV Company, Gagik Tsarukyan is going to play the role of Arthur Baghdasaryan in the elections."
Asked why the Municipality sanctions ALM's rallies, which is not the case with the opposition Armenian national Congress (HAK), Mr. Karateyan said, "Our rally scheduled for January 15 in Vanadzor is not sanctioned but we are going to hold it anyway."
ALM Holding will hold another rally in Yerevan, in the vicinity of Matenadaran, on January 19.
