The Media Advocacy Coalition continues to monitor the media environment and responds to recent developments in the media sector, which represent a direct continuation of the repressive policy pursued by “Georgian Dream” against independent media. The difficult situation in the country indicates that attempts to restrict free speech are becoming systemic.
The Communications Commission is finally shaping up to be an organ of censorship. The Commission continues to enforce repressive legislation. On June 25, based on amendments made to the Law on Broadcasting, the independent television station “TV Pirveli” was fined 2,500 GEL for using terms such as “prisoners of conscience” or “oligarch.” A short while earlier, the independent broadcaster “Formula” was fined on similar grounds. These decisions set a dangerous precedent and are directed against freedom of expression and democratic pluralism.
It should be noted that despite the collective status of the Commission, there is a clear perception that the agency is completely under the influence of its chairman, Goga Gulordava, who previously worked for the British-sanctioned TV company “Imedi” and was also a Member of Parliament from “Georgian Dream.” Under the leadership of the Commission Chairman, its remaining members-namely, the newly elected Ani Vazagashvili (who also worked for TV company “Imedi” and before that at the Ministry of Internal Affairs), Natia Kukuladze, Ivane Makharadze, and Ekaterine Imedadze-are directly participating in the process directed against independent media by supporting repressive decisions. The structural units of the Commission, specifically the leadership of the Legal and Media Services Regulation Departments-Irakli Butbaia and Konstantine Koridze-and their staff, emerge as instruments of this repressive policy, acting as direct supporters of these decisions at least during the course of the Commission’s sessions. For example, the subsequent fining of the television stations was carried out based on selective monitoring conducted by the Media Services Regulation Department.
In parallel, the Parliament of Georgia is using accreditation regulations to persecute independent journalists. This week’s suspension of accreditation for 6 months for Nini Balanchivadze, a parliamentary correspondent for TV company “Formula,” for asking critical questions is yet another act of revenge by “Georgian Dream.” This lever allows the Parliament to completely isolate itself from questions that are important to the public. Similar repressive policies have been used against independent media multiple times in the past.
The influence of “Georgian Dream” continues at the Public Broadcaster, where new members of the Board of Trustees were elected. Appointing Gia Murghulia for a second term means strengthening the repressive policy implemented by Vasil Maghlaperidze and Tinatin Berdzenishvili, which is aimed at suppressing independent opinion inside the channel and biased coverage in favor of “Dream.” A new member of the board is Davit Kartvelishvili, a representative of “People’s Power” and a prominent supporter of “Georgian Dream.” Notably, 3 of the members of the candidate selection committee were employees of the sanctioned “Imedi.”
The Media Advocacy Coalition expresses full solidarity with independent media outlets and every individual journalist who, even under the conditions of this targeted attack and repression, manage to perform their professional duty and keep the public informed.
