Russia launches first public Muslim TV channelAugust 20, 2012 - 13:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia’s first public Muslim TV channel, Al-RTV, has hit the air, RIA Novosti reported citing the Bashinform news portal. Established by Russia’s largest Muslim organizations to promote Islamic religious and spiritual values, Al-RTV so far covers eight Russian regions: Bashkortostan, Tatarstan and six North Caucasus republics. The round-the-clock service was launched on Sunday, August 19, to coincide with the Uraza Bairam (Eid-ul-fitr) holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. The channel’s chief editor is Rustam Arifdzhanov, vice president of the Eurasian Academy of Television and Radio Broadcasting. The channel is controlled by a public council that includes representatives of all of Russia’s large Islamic organizations. “From day one we started operating as a public TV channel,” Arifdzhanov said in an interview with RIA Novosti. The channel will be supported by private donations and government grants. Its initiators are planning subsequently to extend the service to other CIS countries. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |