The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe passed Recommendation 1641
(2004) on Public Service Broadcasting. This document, assessing the formation
of public service broadcasting in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe
and Newly Independent States notes in particular that in Russia the lack of
independent public service broadcasting was a major contributing factor to the
absence of balanced political debate during the recent parliamentary elections.
In Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine hardly any progress had been made in adopting
the necessary public service broadcasting legislation that might meet Council
of Europe standards. “(…) In other countries, laws on public service
broadcasting have been adopted but certain provisions and practices contradict
European standards. In Armenia, all the members of the Council for Public Radio
and Television are appointed by the President of the Republic”, the Recommendation
says.
