YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. At the conclusion of the December 19 rally in Gyumri's Theatre Square, which was organized by the headquarters on protection of speech freedom and "Gala" TV company, an application was adopted to all departments, which, in the opinion of the society, are applying pressure on "Gala." In particular, it is proposed that the Gyumri tax inspection of the RA State Tax Service withdraw its lawsuit, review its checking documents and compile a new summary act. The society also demands that the criminal case of tax evasion, which was opened based on the results of checkings at Chap LLC - the founder of "Gala" TV comoany, should be quashed. It is demanded that the chairman of the National Television and Radio Committee Grigor Amalian withdraw the documents on advertisement by "Gala" (the documents were provided to the tax service), in which, according to the society, "Gala" is said to "broadcast advertisement in fabulous amounts". The documents do not differentiate between self-advertisement, social advertisement (which the TV company used to broadcast free of charge) and commercial paid advertisement: all this is presented as paid advertisement. Officials of bodies in Shirak marz and the regional center are demanded that they end pressure on advertisers. The Gyumri mayor's office has been proposed to give up its decision to settle in court the argument on the old television tower of Gyumri and to rent the tower at a reasonable price. It is demanded that the Shirak regional prosecutor's office check the police decision not to open a criminal case in connection with the fact of the assualt on cameraman of "Gala" by employee of the State Tax Service Hovik Hovhannisian. If these demands are not met, the rally participants will take "other adequate measures", including the "pleasant and pro-nation process" of dismissing officials of the above mentioned departments. The application was adopted, given the fact that the attacks by high-ranking officials of a number of state departments "are aimed at depriving the TV company of the air and have an organized and coordinated character". It is stated that speech freedom is an inalienable right and no official may deprive people of this right. Participants of this large rally in Gyumri came from Yerevan, Vanadzor, and 30 communities of Shirak marz. Speeches were made by the chairman of "Asparez" Club of Journalists Levon Barseghian, the chairman of the city cultural center "Shirak" Vahan Tumanian, the chairman of the Helsinki Civil Assembly's Vanadzor Office Artur Sakunts, the chairman of the committee on protection of speech freedom Ashot Melikian, the editor-in-chied of the "Haykakan Zhamanak" ("Armenian Time") newspaper and the head of the "Impeachment" movement Nikol Pashinian, the chairman of the "Democratic Homeland" party Petros Makeyan, the NA deputy, member of "Orinats Yerkir" party Hovhannes Margarian, as well as other social and cultural figures. All of them condemned administrative pressure put on "Gala" and expressed their support for this TV company. The rally participants carried placards "It is better to Light a Candle than to Stay in Darkness for Ever", "There is no Place to Retreat", "The Enemies of Speech Freedom Will Be Punished under Law, by God and the Public's Contempt", "Hands Off "Gala", Our Favorite Child", and others.

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