On March 19, 2008, a telethon asking for donations was launched in Gyumri for the support of GALA TV, the only independent television in Armenia, which was controversially fined about 27 million drams by taxing services. A car used by Levon Barseghyan, Asparez Journalists' Club board chairman and coordinator of the Headquarters of Protecting Freedom of Speech and GALA TV, involved in the fund-raising campaign, was set on fire and seriously damaged in a few days.

The incident occurred just hours after he denounced Gyumri's Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan for urging local residents not to aid GALA. Transparency International Anti-corruption Center joined a number of NGOs to issue a statement condemning illicit act.

For more details, please see Statement