CEC Restricts Photo and Video Recording in Polling Stations

Interpresnews

On the election day, photo and video-recording shall be possible only from the specially allocated places in the polling stations.

CEC Chairman Zurab Kharatishvili stated in an announcement that movement during the first 10 minutes of video and photo recording will be unrestricted but 10 minutes into recording cameras will be placed in a special place allocated for video/photo recording which will be at least three meters distance [from the election booth and registration table]; video and photo recording of the registration list and inside the booth is banned.

As for the time allowed for shooting, it begins at the arrival of the first voter and ends with the approval of the final protocol. Kharatishvili stated that video and photo recording of these procedures of public interest will not be restricted. Besides that, special spots shall be allocated for cameras from where they will see at least the ballot box.

Zurab Kharatishvili said the aforementioned issues shall be further regulated. CEC has already voted on the resolution and approved it by 11 votes vs 2.

Besides that, these regulations will not apply to video/photo recording by cell-phones.

“The initial version of the CEC’s resolution, which envisaged complete prohibition of video/photo recording, was just cosmetically amended,”– the executive director of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association Eka Popkhadze told journalists.

She added that GYLA and other NGOs do not agree with the CEC resolution. “We believe that the Election Code of Georgia already regulated activities of on-site media and observers  as well as possible problems which could hamper the polling process. So, although CEC somewhat compromised, the initial version was just cosmetically amended. In fact, the new resolution imposes many barriers for journalists and observers. Among them I mean the rule which states that a person who was video/photo recording the balloting process, may no longer continue footage if he/she leaves the polling station,” Eka Popkhadze said and added that GYLA will inform international organizations about their protest.

Chairwoman of the Regional Media Association Ia Mamaladze said in fact, the accreditation of media representatives and observers had lost its meaning because they will not be able to work normally at the polling stations. “The new resolution contradicts the law. Placing cameras in special places is incredible because there are two rooms in some polling stations. None of our petitions were considered [by CEC],” Ia Mamaladze said.

CEC passed a resolution on the restriction of video/photo recording in polling stations with 11 votes to 2, amid noisy protests from NGOs and media organizations.