The government decided to liquidate Gyumri’s Shirak Public Television CJSC. About 50 people work in the television and radio company.

According to the official justification, in 2016 Arenia has been transitioning to digital broadcasting, while the Shirak Public Television and Radio Company operates in an analog domain, and cannot provide to a wide audience.

“Digital broadcasting will require priority legislative regulation and a considerable financial investment, which is unrealistic at the moment,” the government statement argued.

The possibility of closing Shirak was talked about last September, when it became known that the 2019 state budget did not include the costs of the company.

“From September until now, five employees of the TV company have already moved from Gyumri to Yerevan. It isn’t ruled out that there will be followers of that pattern,” Shirak director Artur Ghandilyan said.

The TV and Radio Company is discussing upcoming steps, trying to clarify what they ought to do. Ghandilyan said that they are starting a movement under the slogan “We Will Not Be Closed,” and will try to voice once again the importance and significance of their activities. The movement will not be in the form of protests and road closures. The director of Shirak said that they will not work that way.

“We are now holding discussions and trying to find options for the further activities of the TV and Radio Company. It will be in the form of share sale, collective privatization or otherwise. After that, we will present our clear demand to the government and will make a statement,” the director of the company told Media.am.

There were no discussions with state bodies or representatives of the Public Television and Radio chairman. Ghandilyan is going to meet with the board chairman and the Prime Minister and achieve a review of the the decision.

Levon Barseghyan, Chairman of the Board of Journalists’ Club Asparez says that before deciding to lose Shirak, it was necessary to have a profound study of the need for closing or not closing the TV  and Radio Company ad to have justifications.

“This creative staff should be able to implement their ideas, at least not as a public TV and Radio Company. The Directorate of Television, The Public Television and Radio Council and the Government should be interested in that issue. An effective solution is necessary, so that that potential, abilities and wealth will not be lost. Now, if the company’s property is collected and placed in a warehouse, who will gain from that? The different scenarios of solutions must be discussed,” said Levon Barseghyan.

Journalists have issued a statement indicating that the presence of Shirak in the analogue broadcasting domain is still the result of the short-sighted policy of the former authorities in the field of broadcasting.

“Unfortunately, now, instead of searching for modern solutions, the new authorities have decided to take an easy path by simply shutting Shirak down. Meanwhile, taking into consideration the experience of the TV company and the existence of the audience, it was possible to avoid such a drastic step, and, for example, envisage a transitional period and provide the staff with privatization opportunities. It would allow Shirak to continue its activities, to become involved in a private multiplex in the future, and to decide on their own fate independently under the conditions of equal competition. This governmental decision gives occasion to worry about the future of about 10 local analogue TV channels in the regions,” the statement read.

Journalistic organizations urge the Government of Armenia to reconsider the decision to liquidate Shirak Public TV and Radio Company CJSC, to abstain from abrupt and contradictory demands in the broadcasting industry, to develop a radical reform program based on international experience and taking into account the recommendations of specialized journalistic organizations.

Anahit Danielyan