On February 17, Shirak court of general jurisdiction granted the claim of Gyumri’s Municipality and made CHAP LLC, the founder of GALA TV, within a month demount the transmitting satellite and cable from TV tower located at Sargsyan str. 6/1 in Gyumri. GALA TV announced that they intend to appeal the decision in the Court of Appeals.

We assess the court decision, which has passed all the instances, as continuation of pressures on the TV Company by authorities and new threats to the freedom of expression and media.

We, the undersigned representatives of journalistic organizations, call for competent instances to take up measures to stop the unjustified persecution. We attach great importance to elimination of pressures on media outlets on the eve of coming elections in order to provide healthy environment in the field of information.

Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression

Yerevan Press Club

Journalist’s Club “Asparez”