Armenia Shuts Down Azerbaijani-Language TV Project Amid Financial Strain and Political Tension
The Azerbaijani-language media project ReOpen Media, operating from Armenia, has announced it is shutting down. The organization went live with an emergency broadcast on the night of December 6, stating that it is closing due to financial difficulties and political pressure.
While its official statement cites funding problems as the primary reason, local reports suggest the closure may be directly linked to heightened tensions in recent days.
The turning point reportedly came on December 3, during a live cross-broadcast between Azerbaijan’s Real TV host Vafa Gamzayeva and ReOpen Media presenter Diana Karapetyan. Despite a prior agreement to avoid political terminology, Karapetyan used the word “Artsakh”, sparking immediate controversy.
Karapetyan’s remark – “For us it’s Artsakh; for others, it’s Karabakh” – prompted a sharp response from Gamzayeva:
“If you still say ‘Artsakh’, what kind of peace dialogue can we talk about? Official Yerevan already recognizes Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan.”
Following this reaction, Karapetyan stopped using the term “Artsakh” and attempted to explain her phrasing, but the exchange remained tense throughout the broadcast.
