The Communications Commission of Georgia recognized as admissible the complaint of "Georgian Dream" against three critical channels - "Mtavari", "Formula", and "TV Pirveli". "Georgian Dream" requests the broadcasters to be sanctioned for posting the video by the "Shame Movement" on air.
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Broadcasters broadcasted the controversial clip as an announcement of the June 24 pro-Western and anti-Russian rally.
According to the assessment of "Georgian Dream", based on the content of the videos distributed on June 23 and 24, it is clear that it is intended for an indefinite circle of people, serves to negatively shape the party "Georgian Dream" and its idea, and aims to hinder its image for future elections. The commercial identifies the "Georgian Dream" by referring to specific party faces. In addition, the commercial contains the presentation of the leaders of the ruling party and government representatives in a negative context, based on excerpts taken out of the context of the statements made by them regarding the resolution of the European Parliament, the status of the candidate and the ongoing war in Ukraine, serves to form a negative opinion towards them in the society", - says the complaint signed by Sergi Jorbenadze, entrusted by the chairman of the party, Irakli Kobakhidze.
According to the complaint, since there was no pre-election campaign on June 23 and 24, 2022, the broadcasters were not allowed to air a segment that carried pre-election/political advertising content.
The lawyers of the opposition TV channels believe that the video presented by the "Shame Movement" was a social advertisement, and they had the right to air it. According to Giorgi Mshvenieradze, the representative of "Mtavari", the purpose of the clip was to encourage people to participate in the protest action planned for June 24, which is protected by the law of assemblies and demonstrations. According to him, the identifying symbols or colours of the "Georgian Dream" party were not used.
The video shows a collage of the anti-European and anti-Ukrainian statements of state political officials and Giorgi Gachechiladze, aka "Utsnobi":
- Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili: "I said on February 25 that if anyone were oppressed and punished by this war, it would be Ukraine";
- Giorgi Gachechiladze, "Utsnobi": "We all saw how they dragged Ukraine into a trap. They won't drag us into such a trap."
- Irakli Gharibashvili: "Since Ukraine is at war, it is for this purpose, with this motivation, that status is given to them... If the granting of status is determined by war, my friends, we do not want war. The status of the candidate is symbolic."
- Kakha Kaladze, Mayor of Tbilisi: "What we heard and saw yesterday as a resolution was shameful."
- Giorgi Volski, the first deputy chairman of the Parliament: "I would say that even in the European Parliament, there are people who create fake news."
- Irakli Kobakhidze, leader of the parliamentary majority: "And such a resolution, frankly speaking, is not worthy of the paper it is written on."
- Giorgi Gachechiladze, "Utsnobi": "What does the imposition of sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili mean? Tell me that. We will not let anyone eat Bidzina Ivanishvili alive."
- Irakli Gharibashvili: "You should at least know the definition of an oligarch... I will uncover everything... The horrors written in the resolution are shameful..."
- Giorgi Gachechiladze, "Utsnobi": "If the road goes through sanctioning Bidzina, leading us to the war, then it should be closed."
Media Advocacy Coalition considers the "Georgian Dream" request that the Communications Commission sanction critical channels for airing the video as alarming.
"Georgian Dream" itself points out in the complaint that the goal of the dispute is to eliminate negative messages about the party in the media space and to limit critical opinions on issues that are undesirable to them.
However, banning videos critical of the ruling party lacks a legal basis and threatens pluralism in the country.
Moreover, this kind of attitude is incompatible with the management principles of a modern democratic state", says Natia Kapanadze, coordinator of Media Advocacy Coalition.
This is not the first time that the Communications Commission has discussed the issue of posting political advertisements by critical media. In 2020 and 2021, the commission twice sanctioned the "Mtavari" with the highest measure. Media Advocacy Coalition assessed these decisions as censorship.
According to the Law of Georgia On Broadcasting, a pre-election advertisement is considered a pre-election ad, the purpose of which is to facilitate the election of the President of Georgia, the Parliament of Georgia, the Municipal Council and the Mayor.
The Communications Commission will consider the "Georgian Dream" complaint on August 23, at 15:00.
