[JURIST] The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) [official website] unanimously ruled [decision; press release] Tuesday that Armenia's National Television and Radio Commission had improperly denied a broadcast license to the A1 Plus [media website] television station. ECHR found that the denial violated Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights [text], which protects freedom of expression. A1 Plus, which is frequently critical of the Armenian government, had its license revoked in 2002. ArmeniaNow has more.

Council of Europe [official website] Secretary General Terry Davis praised the decision [press release] saying it was well overdue and "victory for freedom of expression." Advocacy group Global Voices said [advocacy posting] that the absence of the station had effectively eliminated all non-state-controlled television in the country. In March, Armenia eased additional media restrictions that it had put in place as part of a state of emergency [JURIST reports] declared during fiercely contested elections in the country.