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STATEMENT OF THE BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS ON CLOSURE OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN ARMENIA
Radio Liberty
March 5 2008
Czech Republic
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) strongly objects to
the blackout of independent media in Armenia. Under the state of
emergency rules that went into effect on March 2, media were ordered
to cite only official sources when covering national news, and the
Voice of America's (VOA) Armenian-language TV program and Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL) Armenian-language radio programs are no
longer being broadcast through local affiliated stations. In addition,
Internet access has been curtailed as part of the government efforts
to control news and information as the political crisis has deepened
since the disputed February 19 elections.
"Censorship and harassment of the media are the antithesis of
democracy," said James K. Glassman, Chairman of the BBG, which oversees
all non-military U.S. international broadcasting. "Our broadcasters
wish to serve the audience in Armenia by providing reliable news and
information at this critical juncture.
Unfortunately, that is not an option at the moment, unless you are
a patient and resourceful Internet user."
In the course of the violence over the weekend, a driver for RFE/RL
was beaten by police in Yerevan, despite being identified as a
representative of the media, and another RFE/RL correspondent in the
town of Gyumri, covering a similar demonstration, was manhandled and
threatened by Interior Ministry troops.
VOA and RFE/RL are among the entities that broadcast in 60 languages
under the direction of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, reaching
an overseas audience of 155 million people on radio, television and
the Internet.
Radio Liberty
March 5 2008
Czech Republic
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) strongly objects to
the blackout of independent media in Armenia. Under the state of
emergency rules that went into effect on March 2, media were ordered
to cite only official sources when covering national news, and the
Voice of America's (VOA) Armenian-language TV program and Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL) Armenian-language radio programs are no
longer being broadcast through local affiliated stations. In addition,
Internet access has been curtailed as part of the government efforts
to control news and information as the political crisis has deepened
since the disputed February 19 elections.
"Censorship and harassment of the media are the antithesis of
democracy," said James K. Glassman, Chairman of the BBG, which oversees
all non-military U.S. international broadcasting. "Our broadcasters
wish to serve the audience in Armenia by providing reliable news and
information at this critical juncture.
Unfortunately, that is not an option at the moment, unless you are
a patient and resourceful Internet user."
In the course of the violence over the weekend, a driver for RFE/RL
was beaten by police in Yerevan, despite being identified as a
representative of the media, and another RFE/RL correspondent in the
town of Gyumri, covering a similar demonstration, was manhandled and
threatened by Interior Ministry troops.
VOA and RFE/RL are among the entities that broadcast in 60 languages
under the direction of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, reaching
an overseas audience of 155 million people on radio, television and
the Internet.