On April 2 in Yerevan a procession and a rally to support “A1+” were held in Yerevan to mark the third anniversary since the TV company was deprived of air due to refusal of a broadcast license by the National Commission on Television and Radio. About 300 action participants demanded the authorities of the country to allocate a free frequency to a new, open and transparent, broadcast licensing competition. Previously and on the day of the action a number of newspapers published an appeal on their front pages to join the action and support the demand voiced. Earlier, on March 31, the Journalists Union of Armenia, Yerevan Press Club, Internews Armenia public organization, Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression and the Helsinki Committee of Armenia adopted a joint statement, demanding the NCTR jointly with the RA Ministry of Transportation and Communication, other competent bodies to allocate a vacant frequency to hold a public licensing competition. The five NGOs made an appeal to local and international community to direct similar addresses to the National Commission on Television and Radio (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, March 25-31, 2005).
The April 2 meeting was held in the center of Yerevan by the Komitas Monument, where the signature gathering to support the demand started, too. The action is supposed to last for 10 days.
During the rally to support “A1+”, the representatives of the State Traffic Police took the car owned by the TV company, carrying the banners, loud-speakers and other equipment, to the penalty area. As the Press Secretary of the RA Police Sayat Shirinian announced to the press, after the penalty is paid, the car will be returned to the owner and the remaining equipment will be confiscated, according to the law.
