The Armenian parliament has approved amendments to the "Audiovisual Media" law in the second and final reading.
Medianews.az reports that these amendments envisage a ban on the broadcasting of foreign programs through public television that bear signs of interference in the country's internal affairs.
Armenia's Minister of High-Tech Industry, Mkhitar Ayrapetyan, stated at the commission meeting that the draft will grant the regulatory state body the authority to identify signs of calls for war and interference in the country's internal affairs. According to him, based on the approved amendments, cases of banning the broadcasting of audiovisual programs will be defined, and broadcasting materials that interfere with internal processes will be prevented.
During the February 3 meeting of the parliament's permanent commission on science, education, culture, diaspora, youth, and sports issues, Ayrapetyan noted that broadcast statements aimed at directly or indirectly influencing internal processes, including the formation of government structure, holding elections and referendums, can be regarded as interference in Armenia's internal affairs. The minister added that independent media entities created, financed, or edited by a foreign state or an organization connected with it may also fall under this regulation. However, analytical programs based solely on facts and not including evaluative opinions are not excluded from the amendments.
It should be noted that earlier the Armenian leadership criticized the broadcast analytical programs and expressed support for restrictions on the broadcasting of Russian television channels in the republic. In April 2024, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stressed that if Russian TV channels demonstrate disrespect for Armenia's domestic life, their activity will be banned. On July 1, 2025, the parliament speaker, Alen Simonyan, noted the importance of discussing the suspension of broadcasting Russian TV channels in the country. Currently, rebroadcasting of Russian TV channels is carried out through the public television network in Armenia.//Oxu.az