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They can’t delay forever

Interview
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A year ago the European Court of Human Rights upheld the claim of "A1+", but "A1+" is still illegally deprived of airtime to this day.

"A1+" had an interview with President of "A1+" Meltex LTD Mesrop Movsesyan.

"A1+": Mr. Movsesyan, has the verdict reached by the European Court been fulfilled?

Mesrop Movsesyan: It has not only been not fulfilled, but hasn't even been discussed. The parliament, government and the Ministry of Justice haven't even touched upon the issue and have no clear idea about the verdict. It is clear that the administration is trying to win time for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, the solution to inter-political issues, the release of political prisoners and the issue concerning "A1+". But they can't keep delaying forever and something must happen sooner or later.

"A1+": How long can they delay fulfilling the verdict and go against the Council of Europe's ministerial committee?

Mesrop Movsesyan: It doesn't require a lot of thinking. They are mainly occupied with personal issues and are not interested in the issue of "A1+", the situation in the country or the commitments that they have not been fulfilling for years. They have decided to postpone everything through threats and cheating and will keep postponing as long as the society or the international community resists. But the society can't tolerate this forever.

"A1+: Is it possible to appeal to the European Court again with the claim that the Armenian government is not fulfilling the verdict of the court?

Mesrop Movsesyan: The European Court does not have functions for following-up on that. But we have appealed to the ministerial committee, which is following-up on the process and we have sent the verdict of the Cassation Court by which the court denied the claim of "A1+", that is, to appeal all previous 8 verdicts reached by the RA first instance court. This meant declaring a new contest, but it was denied. Studying the situation, the ministerial committee has decided to keep the issue of "A1+" on the agenda until the issue is solved. It is a matter of time. It is hard to see a solution to the issue if the Europeans are ready to tolerate the threats and cheating for a long time. But I am certain that the cheating is over and there are two main issues: the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and the issue of "A1+".

"A1+": The authorities think that time is on their side, while the opposition says that it is on their side. Do you think that time is on "A1+"'s side or not?

Mesrop Movsesyan: I believe that the time of the authorities, opposition and "A1+" is on the people's side because the deeper the wound, the harder it will be to cure it and treatment is inevitable.

"A1+": Do you think that the authorities drew conclusions from the verdict of the European Court in the past year?

Mesrop Movsesyan: To be honest, I don't know of any authorities in Armenia in the past year. These authorities are only after salvation. But this regime will not be able to save itself or the situation in the country with the forces and imitation of leadership. We don't have leaders.

"A1+": How is the state in the field of news? Isn't there a little freedom for television stations?

Mesrop Movsesyan: Freedom is relative for our authorities. Freedom for them is personal freedom and freedom in their actions. The state-run stations also have that freedom; they get free money, cheat freely and are free to disperse disinformation.