In “GALA”’s defense
"Heritage" Party has expressed its disappointment with the February 17 verdict announced by the general jurisdiction court of Shirak province. After the appeal filed by the Municipality of Gyumri was upheld, founder of "GALA" television-"CHAP" LTD" is obliged to demolish the satellite and wire installed on the top of the television tower located on V. Sargsyan 6/1 in Gyumri within a month.
"The mentioned verdict of the case that has gone through all judicial instances and has been appealed in favor of "GALA" by the Court of Appeals is another blow to Armenia's reputation, democracy and the thousands of "GALA"'s viewers' right to receiving free and objective information.
With this,
-by not being able to deprive "GALA" television from airtime by creating different obstacles,
-by not being satisfied with their own political decision on depriving "GALA" from airtime for the next 10 years through the NCTR on 23 December 2010
-even concerned with the perspective that "GALA" television will be broadcast until 2015 regardless of the results of the broadcasting "tender", which is a serious obstacle on the road to reaching the defective, anti-democratic goals stated in the signed coalition memorandum
The Armenian authorities are now trying to continue their ignominious struggle against free speech and television through the mayor of Gyumri
On February 17, "Heritage" Party MPs and members of the board met with Mayor of Gyumri Vardan Ghukasyan. In response to the "Heritage" representatives' calls to refrain from dishonorable acts, the mayor announced that he will "go against "GALA" television until the end."
We demand the immediate suspension of these unruly acts against free speech and call on the authorities to search for ways to add the number of cables so that the "A1+" and "GALA" televisions, which were deprived of the right to broadcasting in December 2010, are back on air.
We also express our support to "GALA" television, which is preparing to appeal the verdict reached by the general jurisdiction court of Shirak province and call on that judicial instance to refrain from legalizing the political decisions dictated by the authorities," as stated in the declaration.
