People’s TV Foundation Board Member Didn’t Know Janibekyan Left the Board

Speaking to Epress.am, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – Vanadzor office (HCAV) President Arthur Sakunts, also a member of the People’s TV foundation Board of Trustees, wasn’t aware that actor Karen Janibekyan had resigned from the board.

Asked by Epress.am what his opinion is on Janibekyan leaving the board, Sakunts said:

“If he has left [the board], then he did wrong. To tell you the truth, I don’t know; really has such a thing happened? did you clarify it with Janibekyan?” 

As reported earlier, A1+ President Mesrop Movsisyan told Epress.am that Janibekyan resigned from the board, citing lack of time and a busy schedule. According to local Armenian daily Haykakan Jamanak (“Armenian Times”), Armenia’s ruling elite asked Janibekyan to break his ties with the foundation, and under this pressure, the actor quickly did.

Recall that the People’s TV foundation, launched on Oct. 18, aims to promote freedom of expression and to support A1+ TV company, which is taking part in the broadcast licensing competitions. 

A1+ was deprived of its broadcasting license in April 2002. The TV company had further taken part in all the broadcast licensing competitions, but every time its bids were scored lower by the NCTR than those of its rivals. On June 17, 2008, the European Court of Human Rights released its judgment on the case of the founder of A1+ TV company, Meltex LLC, and its President Mesrop Movsisyan vs Republic of Armenia. In the ECHR ruling, the refusals to grant a broadcast license to Meltex LLC were recognized to be a violation of Article 10 of the European Convention on Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, that is, of the right of the applicant to freely impart information and ideas.