ArmInfo. Based on the results of the recent Moscow consultations regarding the violations committed by the Russian side of the intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of mass communications, consensus could not be reached. Minister of High-Technological Industry of the Republic of Armenia Mkhitar Hayrapetyan stated on April 10 during the government hour in the National Assembly of Armenia.
However, this, according to him, does not mean that the negotiations have reached a dead end. Next week, the Armenian side intends to send a package of proposals to their Russian partners regarding a new edition of the intergovernmental agreement.
"We are constructive. Our goal is not to aggravate the situation, but to get a document that will work as a result of a healthy debate. A document, in case of violation of the provisions of which sanctions will follow. Today's regulations do not provide such an opportunity," the minister emphasized, noting that the Russian side is aware of Armenia's position.
If the proposals of the Armenian side are not accepted, he did not rule out that the state would consider the possibility of terminating the intergovernmental agreement with the Russian Federation unilaterally.
On March 29, Television and Radio Broadcasting Network of Armenia" CJSC issued a statement saying that "on the basis of Articles 5 and 6 of the agreement "On cooperation in the field of mass telecommunications between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Russian Federation" recently recorded the fact of constant violations on the Russian side. As a result, the Network blocked the broadcast of "Evening with Vladimir Solovyov" and "Sunday evening with Vladimir Solovyov" TV shows on the territory of Armenia, which were broadcast on the RA Public Multiplex by the RTR-PLANETA television company," the broadcaster said in a statement.
Last year, the RA Television and Radio Commission recorded violations of Article 5 of the Agreement on Cooperation between Armenia and Russia in the field of mass telecommunications. The Russian side recognized this fact, as a result of which a joint statement was signed. As a result of consultations held in December last year, an agreement was reached between the parties to take steps to properly comply with all points of the Agreement. However, already in February 2024, the Armenian side recorded a new violation, and therefore the Armenian Foreign Ministry sent a note of protest to the Russian side. "Only the fact that two months later such violations are repeated suggests that the interstate agreement in force between Armenia and the Russian Federation, apparently, needs to be finalized or edited," noted the Minister of High-Technological Industry of Armenia in this regard. Notably, theses processes started in October 2023, when the "Nikol Pashinyan: a harbinger of trouble" was broadcast on the First Channel of the Russian Federation, during which offensive and completely unacceptable statements were made against high-ranking officials of Armenia.
