Transmission of Russian TV Channels to Be Stopped in Azerbaijan from 2007

PanARMENIAN.Net - Transmission of the First Channel (ORT) and RTR-Planeta Russian TV Channels will be stopped in Azerbaijan from January 2007, reports Kommersant daily. The decision was announced by chairman of the Azeri TV and Radio National Council Nushiravan Magerramli. According to him, suspension of transmission of two Russian and two Turkish private TV Channels will be considered early January 2007.



As reported by Lenta.ru, Magerramli assured that the Azeri people will be able to watch the ORT and RTR-Planeta via cable or satellite broadcasting. He also explained that cessation of the Russian Channels is dictated by the wish to encourage the Azeri television. Meanwhile, the edition says, the decision by the Azeri authorities might be conditioned by the information policy of the Russian TV Channels which cover developments in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Kommersant reminds that that the TV and Radio Council proceeding from the orders of the leadership can take or cancel decisions unpredictably.



For example, the Azeri officials decreed to suspend broadcast of RFE/RL and Voice of America from January 1, 2007 but then cancelled the decision two weeks later. In November NS TV Channel and ANS CM radio stations were closed over "severe violations" but 18 days later the Council changed its mind and they were allowed to work. The managers of the Russian channels could nothing but express bewilderment with Magerramli's statement. A source said that all agreements were concluded in proper way. "One can only guess what happened," Kommersant's interlocutor resumed.