The Armenian government, at its Cabinet meeting Thursday, made a decision to liquidate the “Spiritual-Cultural Public Television Company” Closed Joint-Stock Company. It is about Shoghakat television.

Shoghakat television was established by the Armenian government’s decision dated February 24, 2011, by which the powers of managing its shares were vested in the Council of the Public Television and Radio Company of Armenia.

The main type of activity of Shoghakat television is the production and broadcasting of spiritual and cultural television programs.

The explanation for the aforesaid decision states that the basis for the liquidation is the Law “On Amendments to the Law on Audiovisual Media” dated October 24, 2025.

On October 24, the National Assembly adopted a draft amendment to the Law “On Audiovisual Media,” which envisages reducing the number of public broadcasters in Armenia to just two, while also eliminating the requirement to include an educational-cultural program.

From the rationalization of this bill, it became clear that the issue is about abandoning the spiritual-cultural Shoghakat television and excluding it from the list of public broadcasters.

The amendments will come into effect on January 1, 2026.

To note, Shoghakat television is being closed amid the current strained relations between the Armenian authorities and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.