Mesrop Movsesyan, A1 Plus Director, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2007

Today marked the fifth anniversary of the closure of A1 Plus, Armenia’s only alternative TV station that was taken off the air in the year preceding the 2003 presidential and parliamentary election. Every year some kind of event is held to mark the day, but even though its continued absence from the airwaves concerns many international bodies, it seems as though the station is still no closer to resuming broadcasting.

Although critics argue that it was more opposition than independent, the broadcast media is now totally controlled by the authorities without A1 Plus around. Attempts to get hold of a new frequency have failed in what appear to be less than transparent and impartial tenders, and A1 Plus’ case is being heard by the European Court as this BBC report from early last year reports.

In April 2002, the Armenian government took A1+ off the air.

The TV station, which was the most popular independent news channel at the time, has since reapplied ten times for a licence to broadcast. Each time it has been refused.

Three years ago, A1+ took its case to the European Court of Human Rights. A two-year investigation followed.

[…]

When the A1+ signal died, almost four years ago, thousands gathered on the streets of Yerevan to protest.

Still, even if the number of people that mark the anniversary reduces with each passing year, today was different than usual. In what was probably an attempt to gain access to Liberty Square, A1 Plus decided to plant trees in the park surrounding the Opera.

It is already 5 years A1+ has been off air. In this view, all people concerned with the freedom of expression and media in the Republic of Armenia gathered near the statue of Aram Khachatryan at 5:00 p.m., April 2. The initiators intended to plant 16 trees symbolizing the 16th anniversary of the independence proclamation. The event had a symbolic motto - to create a “Path of Speech Freedom.”

Reminder; Yerevan Municipality forbade A1+ to realise tree planting which is already a breach of Constitution. By the way, the refusal was determined by the fact that “State Dance Ensemble” would give a concert in the National Academy of Opera and Ballet at 7:00 p.m., April 2.

Nevertheless, today the initiators implemented their plan; after brief speeches they started tree planting. But the representatives of remedial forces uprooted the trees as soon as they were planted.

To be fair to the municipal authorities, permission hadn’t been granted to dig up holes in what little green still remains in the park now that every corrupt official now seems to have their own cafe erected there instead, but it was interesting to consider how the law is applied selectively in Armenia. If the law was functioning and corruption was being tackled in earnest, we’d still have some public parks.

Besides the twelve cafés and discotheques already operating near the Opera House, there are three new establishments under construction, thanks to mayoral decisions. According to the designs approved by the city’s architecture department, these cafés must be built out of light materials, in order to be easily dismantled and relocated if necessary. But most of them have winter halls with solid stone walls, as well as spacious outdoor cafés. Five major structures now tower over the Opera Square . Dozens of trees have been cut down and lawns destroyed during the construction work.

Where were the police and the Mayor’s Office then?

Anyway, one of the best quotes of the day comes from one journalist at today’s event who overheard a policeman tell one of the event’s organizers, “This is a green area, it’s illegal to plant trees.” It was also interesting to see Larissa Alaverdyan, the former Human Rights Ombudsperson and no.2 on the proportional list of the Heritage Party, participating as well as dozens of well known journalists and civil society activists.

Incidentally, I interviewed Mesrop Movsesyan, A1 Plus’ Director, on 3 April 2002 — the day after the TV station was taken off the air. It’s available here.

Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2007