VIDEO: Why the Regulatory Commission Changed Its Decision on the Viva-MTS Deal, Baghramyan Explains

The Public Services Regulatory Commission makes decisions on the sale of the telecommunications operator Viva-MTS based purely on technical aspects. This was stated by the Chairman of the Commission, Garegin Baghramyan, during a conversation with journalists today, November 28, responding to the question of what convincing reasons the Commission had to change its decision following a negative conclusion in April and how it regained confidence in the Cypriot company that purchased shares of Viva-MTS.

"When an application is made for the acquisition of shares, the law stipulates that the packet is examined by the Commission, meaning it is solely checked in terms of whether it can carry out its activities or not. Other issues related to security and public interest are submitted to the authorized body, the BTAM, which, after discussing with the NSS, presents a conclusion," Baghramyan said.

According to him, it was the NSS that initially presented a negative stance. "The last packet that was presented presumably contained additional information; certainly, there is a conclusion from the NSS," he said.

When asked what had changed, he noted that he could not say for sure: "I do not see the study; I only see the conclusion, which states that there are no issues."