Armenia TV

Armenia TV is a closed joint-stock company founded in 1998 by Bagrat Artemi Sargsyan, his brother Vahagn Sargsyan, his father Artem Sargsyan, David Sargsyan, and Sedrak Sedrakyan. At the time of its establishment, Bagrat Sargsyan owned 27% of the company, Vahagn Sargsyan held 9.88%, Artem Sargsyan held 26.16%, David Sargsyan held 21.51%, and Sedrak Sedrakyan held 15.41%. In 2004, he oversaw the opening of "CS Media City" (also known as "Armenia" media holding), which included TV companies "Armenia," "Armnews," "TV-5," radio station "FM 10," and other companies. Media reports indicate he was also the owner of "TV-5" (currently not operating).

According to media sources, Sargsyan had connections to Armenia's second President, Robert Kocharyan. After Kocharyan left office, the brothers moved to the United States, where they founded USArmenia TV and co-founded the Armflix platform for Armenian media content.

In response to a request from the “Armenia” TV Company, they stated that the founder of the TV company is “Panarm” LLC. “Panarm” LLC was founded in 2011, later than the establishment of “Armenia TV” CJSC (founded in 1998).

From 2014 to 2019, Bagrat Artashes Sargsyan, one of the founders of "Panarm" LLC, also owned the "A-TV" TV channel. We were unable to identify him.

Robert Hovhannisyan co-founded "Panarm" LLC in 2011 with Bagrat Artashes Sargsyan, each holding 50% ownership at founding. According to Armenia TV's response to inquiry, "Panarm" LLC is listed as the television company's founder.

Hovhannisyan has been the 100% owner of Armenia TV CJSC since 2018, according to the State Register of Legal Entities. He also serves as the creative development manager of Armenia TV. Since 2019, he has owned "Radio-PRO" LLC, which operates Radio Jan radio station.

Hovhannisyan is the brother-in-law of Artur Janibekyan, founder of Russian "Comedy Club Production." In 2019, Panarmenian Media Group announced that Armenia TV and Radio Jan were owned by the Janibekyan family, though legal records show Hovhannisyan as the registered owner.

David Babakhanyan assumed the position of Director of Armenia TV Company in 2012.

A doctor by profession, Babakhanyan has been collaborating with Armenia TV Company since 2003. He has been the producer, scriptwriter, and director of several programs.

Artur Azaryan has served as editor-in-chief of Armenia TV's "Zham" news service since 2023. Previously, he was editor-in-chief of the same service from 2014 to 2015.

His career includes positions at multiple Armenian media outlets. From 2019 to 2023, he headed public relations at the National Coordination Center for Development of Intellectual Property Rights and Transactions with Objects. He was editor-in-chief of "Jampord" daily newspaper (2017-2019) and of Ararat TV's "Haylur" news service (2015-2016). Ararat TV is currently not operating; media reports linked it to the then-ruling Republican Party.

From 2003 to 2014 with intermissions, Azaryan was director of Kentron TV's "Epicenter" news service. Media reports identify Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of "Prosperous Armenia" party, as Kentron TV's de facto owner. In 2007, he served as creative director at Yerkir Media TV.

Earlier positions include editor roles at Kentron TV's "Epicenter" (2002-2003), various newspapers including "Nazareth," "Shem," and "Yerevanyan Orer" throughout the 1990s.

According to media and journalistic organizations, from 2001 to 2010, Gerald Cafesjian also owned a 50% stake in the television company. Gerald Cafesjian is an American-Armenian businessman who has made major investments in Armenia, such as the restoration of the Cascade complex. He also founded the American-Armenian lobbying organization for US-Armenia Public Affairs.

Media reports from 2010 indicated that Cafesjian's stake had passed to Mikael Minasyan, first deputy head of the presidential staff and son-in-law of then-President Serzh Sargsyan.

Artur Janibekyan is an Armenian television producer and media manager currently residing in the Russian Federation. He was a member of the "New Armenians" team in Russia's "Club of Cheerful and Resourceful People" (KVN) created in 1994. In 2003, he co-founded the "Comedy Club" show broadcast on TNT channel. "Comedy Club Production" was established in 2007.

Janibekyan produced several Russian television projects including "Univer," "Interns," and "Sasha Tanya." From 2015 to 2018, he headed the entertainment TV channels sub-holding of Russia's Gazprom-Media Holding.

He holds a stake in "Jazzve" LLC, founded by former Armenian Ambassador to the Vatican Mikael Minasyan.

Mikael Minasyan is the son-in-law of Armenia's third President, Serzh Sargsyan. He held several positions: Consul of San Marino in Armenia (2005-2013), Assistant to the Prime Minister (2007-2008), First Deputy Chief of Staff of the President (2008-2012), Ambassador to the Vatican (2013-2018), and concurrently Ambassador to Portugal (2017-2018).

Media reports from 2010 indicated that Gerald Cafesjian's 50% stake in Armenia TV passed to Minasyan. From approximately 2010 to 2019, Armenia TV operated as part of Panarmenian Media Group, which included Armenia TV, A-TV, ArmNews, Panarmenian TV (USA), websites tert.am and blognews.am, and radio stations Radio Jan and Lav Radio. Media reports identified Minasyan as the real owner of this media group, though he was never listed as the legal owner in official registries.

Following anti-government protests in April 2018 that led to Serzh Sargsyan's resignation as Prime Minister, Minasyan was recalled from his ambassadorial post and left Armenia. Criminal charges for money laundering were filed against him. He has published video messages from abroad criticizing current authorities.

In 2019, Panarmenian Media Group ceased operations. The announcement stated that 100% of Armenia TV shares belonged to Artur Janibekyan's family. According to the State Register of Legal Entities, Robert Hovhannisyan (Janibekyan's brother-in-law) has been the registered owner since 2018.