Assembly in front of the National Communications Commission

On 12 April the Media Union Solidarity for Media Freedom organized a protest rally in front of Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC).  Up to 20 media representatives protested GNCC activities. Protesters held posters – ‘Regulate, don’t limit.’ Participants believe that the GNCC oppresses and restricts work of the TV-Radio Company Trialeti (Gori) and cable company Global TV.  According to them, the GNCC has unfairly fined Trialeti with GEL 5 thousand. 

They state that when several Georgian channels annulled contracts with Global TV the GNCC did not respond, but interfered with its cooperation with Russian TNT Channel.

The media union also circulated a Petition on the given issue. They have called on the GNCC to stop pressure on free media, stop discriminating certain media outlets and to create equal conditions for all media organizations.

The GNCC denies accusations and states that Trialeti has been fined according to the law and clarifies that cooperation between cable companies and broadcasters is not in the Commission’s competence and is the issue of private business relations.  Media Union Solidarity for Media Freedom unites 41 media organizations.  The organization was founded 1 February 2012.   

Nata Dzvelishvili, Media.ge