PARIS
The withdrawal of the broadcasting license for the Crimean Tatar TV station is a matter of concern, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland said Thursday.
The ATR Channel -- the only Crimean Tatar channel in the world -- was forced off the air after Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor refused to accept the channel's registration on March 31, a day before an April 1 deadline.
"A pluralistic media offer and diversity of content are as important in Crimea as they are anywhere in Europe. I urge the authorities in Crimea and the operators of the Tatar TV station to come to an agreement which will allow the channel to continue," Jagland said in a statement.
Free media should be able to "impart information and ideas," as guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights, he said, adding that the Council of Europe was ready to provide its expertise to resolve the impasse.
According to the Crimean News Agency QNA, Lenur Islyamov, the owner of ATR, said he had received threats that the channel would be forced off the air unless a buyout took place.
The Council of Europe had condemned the annexation of Crimea by Russia in March 2014 following a controversial referendum that saw the region vote for unification with Russia.
