The Russian Embassy in Armenia issued a commentary in connection with the decision of the Television and Radio Commission of the Republic of Armenia to suspend broadcasting of “Sputnik Armenia” Radio, in which it regrets the regulator’s verdict, which limits “the unconditional right of the Armenian listener to receive information from a source of their choice.”

“The Embassy also evaluats the Commission’s decision as a concession “to those who are increasingly in favor of breaking the traditional, mutually beneficial and mutually respectful allied relations between Russia and Armenia.”

“In connection with the above comment from the Embassy, we consider it necessary to provide additional clarification regarding the decision of the TRC.

Commission’s decision N111-A dated 20 December of this year, suspended for 30 days the broadcasting license of “Radio Tospa” CJSC (but not “Sputnik Armenia” Radio, which is not subject to the regulatory functions of TRC and continues to broadcast on all media platforms in Armenia except for the public multiplex). Having received a license to broadcast in a limited frequency resource in 2017, “Radio Tospa” thereby pledged to strictly comply with both the legislation of the Republic of Armenia and the obligations assumed by the license agreement. However, the content of the program “Friday with Tigran Keosayan” rebroadcast by “Radio Tospa” repeatedly and grossly violated both Armenian legislation and came into clear contradiction with the “traditional, mutually respectful allied relations between Russia and Armenia” the commentary of the Embassy mentioned.

The Commission, within the framework of its constitutional powers, has ensured and continues ensuring “the unconditional right of the Armenian listener to receive information from a source of their choice.”

However, filled with “hate speech”, threats, disinformation, barely disguised calls for violence, the monologues of the host of the “Friday with Tigran Keosayan” program, the lack of basic respect in them for the allied country, its people and leadership, even with great imagination, can hardly be called a “source of information”. “It is especially distressing that such content is broadcast by a Russian state media organization.

The reaction of the management of Radio Sputnik and MIA “Rossiya Segodnya” to the decision of the Armenian regulator is also disappointing.

Instead of appropriate in such situations, if not apologies, then at least expressions of readiness to exclude such incidents in the future through constructive dialogue, those responsible for the editorial policy of Radio Sputnik limited themselves to incorrect statements addressed to “ally Armenia” and accusations of the Armenian authorities and the regulator in “suppression of free speech.”