But the authorities do not also stop at what has been achieved. For example, the web-site www.armgsm.am have been deprived of the service, with the help of which messages on mobiles are sent. This happened after some “well-wishers” had informed all the mobile phones’ owners about the upcoming third action of protest. Since April 26 afternoon all mobile network of Yerevan has been paralyzed.
The President’s main weapon is by all means the “independent court”. Mr. Kocharyan pin great hopes in it and flaunt it as the greatest achievement of democratic Armenia ever. He is sure that the court will not let him down. A very interesting organization exists in Armenia – the Council of Justice, which is engaged in personnel recruitment, assignments and what is most important the further promotion of judges. As it is easy to guess, the President himself is at head of this organization. So one of the “independent” judges, Nahshun Tavaratsyan, a member of the appeal court, nullified the idea of justice again, April 25. The trial held at the economy court on the case of OOO “Malteks” (“A1+” is part of the company) vs. the National Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting took two days. The courtroom was filled with OMON fighters. The plaintiff’s claims were turned down by the judge without delay and the defendant’s argument were always considered cogent. Judge Tavaratsyan spent an hour and half in the conference room with her colleagues, while extra OMON forces and the Ministry of Internal Affairs officers were being drawn in the courtroom. The Judge might as well not to go out of the courtroom since the verdict had been already preliminarily ordered. After “A1+” had been taken off air, President Kocharyan told in an interview: “Why kick up a row if the court can resolve the litigation. In my opinion though, there are no violations of law”. By saying this he endorsed the verdict and proved that judges and members of the Council he assigned are pretty independent from the law.
Yet, the President got hurt when human rights activists considered the taking “A1+” and “Noyan-Topana” off air in their letter to the International Helsinki Group as bereaving Armenia of independent TV channels. He replied that it is “unfair and humiliating in relation to the other channels acting in Armenia”.
On April 24, these “other channels” proved their “independence”. During the mourning procession to the monument of genocide against Armenians the Armenian Public television, TV channels “Prometevs” and “Armenia” ceased live shows as soon as the opposition turned up in the alley leading to the monument.
In reality it is simple. On shutting down “A1+”, the President of Armenia started his presidential election campaign.