A1 Plus European Court Ruling

Six years after it was effectively removed from the airwaves, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has finally ruled in favor of the A1 Plus TV Station. Known for its criticism of the authorities, A1 Plus failed to win a tender for its own broadcasting frequency in April 2002. The disappearance of the station from television screens was seen as politically motivated as the country entered the period leading up to the disputed 2003 presidential election.

The loss of the TV station saw the main medium for the dissemination of news to the population totally controlled by economic or political forces close to the authorities. And despite subsequent tenders and calls from international bodies such as the Council of Europe as well as local civil society to allow the station to resume broadcasting, it still remains off the air.

The Armenian Observer reports on the ruling by the European Court.

I just heard the best news for the Freedom of Speech in Armenia in the course of the past 7 years! A1plus has won the case against the RA Government in the European Court of Human Rights.

[…]

The Armenian authorities will have to pay EUR 30,000 to A1plus - which is of course very little, but what is more important, is the precedent. Admittedly, the Armenian government has been loosing case after case in the European Court of Human Rights in the recent months. […]

The full post is available on Global Voices Online.