Tigran Hakobyan: The closure of the Shoghakat TV channel was a mistake

ArmInfo. Chairman of the Television and Radio Commission Tigran Hakobyan considered the closure of the Shoghakat TV channel a mistake.

Speaking at the National Assembly committees' discussions on the 2027 draft state budget of Armenia, Hakobyan noted that the competition for a broadcast frequency replacement has been canceled for the third time. According to the committee head, no one will replace Shoghakat. He noted that a competition for broadcasting in the capital will be held next year, and in 2028 for the entire republic. "We already know for sure today that we will have a nearly half-empty public multiplex, which means that content responsible for our state's information and propaganda focus and serving the Armenian agenda, not the foreign one, will be sharply reduced," added Tigran Hakobyan.

In turn, Sisak Gabrielyan, Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Education, Science, Culture, Sports, and Diaspora, expressed outrage at Tigran Hakobyan's statement about the closure of the Shoghakat TV channel. According to him, the state has never closed a single TV channel.

"In any case, it was closed, and now it's gone," Tigran Hakobyan countered.

"We didn't close anything, but I remember TV companies were closed at one time, and the issue even reached the European Court." "I urge Shoghakat TV to apply for three free airtime slots and distribute its content," said Sisak Gabrielyan.