Tbilisi TV Mast for Sale

Mariam Imerlishvili

The tendency that every state property is being sold in Georgia is continuing. This time the government decided to sell Tbilisi TV mast. The decision to sell the company Alfakom which owns the TV mast was made on July 18th. The Ministry of Economics and Sustainable Development proposes several conditions to the potential investor. According to these conditions, the new owner will be obliged to transfer 12 million dollars investment and not to change the profile of the object.

Alfakom serves 35 TV and 34 radio channels and its market price is 100 000 GEL. The online auction scheduled for 17:00 pm on August 1st will reveal the new owner of the TV mast.

The TV mast was built in 1955 and it represents an object of military-strategic significance. Its communication systems include broadcasting, MMDS, pagers, mobile transmission and commercial TV.

The TV mast sell-out raises concern in public. “TV mast is a significant object and it should stay under the state property” – this was the position of the majority. According to the explanation of the Minister of Economics Vera Kobalia, the TV mast is not being sold but it is being transferred to the winner company of the auction for four years term. But one thing is the sell-out of the mast and another – who will gain the right of management of the company. Part of media and opposition thinks that the company which wins the action will singlehandedly carry out government’s politics and will create problems for independent media means by fixing high tariffs. Restriction of free speech, according to their explanation will serve President’s interests during pre-election period. “Saakashvili and his government cannot tolerate the ultimate weapon against this regime – mass media and free TV – and they try to put economic restrains over it, but this will not work out,” – stated the representative of Labor Party Kakhaber Dzagania.

The discontent of media representatives grew in the protest actions. “Do not oppress media” – the representatives of Media Coalition held a silent action with this slogan at the Ministry of Economics and Sustainable Development. The transparency of media terms, accessibility on the information of Tbilisi TV mast frequencies for the investors and postponing tender – were their main requests.

The head of the TV Company Caucasia and the potential investor of the TV mast Nino Jangirashvili, submitted a letter to the Ministry of Economics and Sustainable Development with the request of determination of action terms: “I, as an individual interested in the participation in this action would like to receive information on the object for sale. Despite my numerous attempts, I could not receive such information. According to the statement issued by the Ministry it is impossible to ascertain what is being sold – a group of TV masts of a restaurant network. I am looking forward to an immediate response from the Ministry. Otherwise I will definitely appeal against the results of auction.”

The fact that the threat against the independent media means is too high was noted by the part of the oppositionists. “A while ago we witnessed how the government increased the travel costs by means of private company. We can say that the same operation is underway right now – the government will sell the TV mast then the new owner will increase the tariff of service and independent TVs will not be able to broadcast” – stated Koba Davitashvili with Human Rights Center.

“This agreement is apparently corruptive. You should not announce an auction twelve days earlier. This means that the government does not want interested individuals to prepare for the auction and it wants to sell Alphakom to the desired company. According to our information, this company is beeline” – stated the representative of TV Company Caucasia Davit Akubardia.

As the part of the media representatives state they are not going to put up with the biased auction and will hold permanent actions against it. “It is natural that we will protest every time when the free media is endangered. We will protect the interests of our colleagues in this case as well and will continue holding actions” – noted the main editor of the newspaper Rezonansi (Resonance) Lasha Tughushi. The next action is planned on August first before holding on-line auction.

The Ministry of Economics seems to be avoiding commenting on this issue. Despite numerous attempts of Human Rights Center to contact the head of Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Economics Tea Bolkvadze, it did not work out. It is hard to assume how transparent the auction will be when the detailed information regarding the auction and the object for sale is not available.