TV Program Not Aired Because of Armenian Judge’s Contradictory Statements

Upon Constitutional Court member Felix Tokhyan's request, ArmNews TV removed from the airwaves the rerun of its April 2 episode of the talk show Banadzev ("resolution"). For the same reason, the broadcast is absent from the TV station's website, reports local news site iLur.am [AM], citing the TV show's producer as its source. 

As reported by iLur, the episode has been removed also from Ucom's digital TV database; nevertheless, the news site managed to acquire a copy.

During the show, Judge Tokhyan says that after the Constitutional Court ruling, employees can ask their employers not to make mandatory pension deductions from their wages. 

"We said that the decision recognizing provisions of the law as unconstitutional enters into force on Sept. 30. But it's clear as day that provisions recognized as unconstitutional should not be in effect. We also said that after our procedural decision, the money collected from nearly 127 thousand people must be returned. If you don't return it now, you will return it after September. If you withhold anything until September, you will return it after September. So it's inane to just keep it now because in all cases you will return people's money after September," said the Constitutional Court member.

Meanwhile, later, the same judge, Tokhyan, during the program Horizon on Shant TV said the complete opposite: "It's a misunderstanding; the mandatory requirement has not been eliminated. Until Sept. 30, you are required to pay — this is unequivocal." 

iLur.am attempted to get an explanation from Felix Tokhyan, but he refused to comment, explaining that he's "in class — [I] don't have time to talk to journalists."

Adding to the confusion surrounding the Court ruling are online media reports that Armenia's state broadcaster didn't air the April 2 episode of its program Hartsazruyts ("interview") with Constitutional Court President Gagik Harutyunyan, though it was pre-recorded. The state broadcaster informed iLur.am that the episode was not aired because Harutyunyan, despite prior agreement, did not attend the recording of the show.