Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

Statement of Media Institute about the developments in the Adjara TV and Radio Broadcasting

February 20, 2020
 
Media Institute criticizes the recent developments in the Adjara TV and Radio Public Broadcasting and states that editorial independence is still under threat, as the management dismisses the journalists, who criticize the government.

Media Institute observes the developments in the Adjara TV and Radio Broadcasting and calls on all interested parties to avoid interference in the editorial policy of the Public Broadcasting. Critical media is extremely important for the society during the pre-election period. 

The monitoring started after the director of the Adjara TV and Radio Broadcasting was fired. Media Institute several times disseminated statements about the ongoing developments in the television as we are fully aware of the particular role of the Public Broadcasting in providing the society with information.

The plan on personnel changes in the Adjara TV and Radio Broadcasting announced by the new director of the television Giorgi Kokhreidze, aimed to annul the positions of deputy directors in four various directions. The plan of the director was fairly perceived as another attempt to restrict editorial independence of the television. 

In this regard, on February 16, demonstrations were organized in Batumi and Kutaisi and on February 17 in Tbilisi, Ozurgeti and Akhaltsikhe to support the journalists of the Adjara TV and Radio Broadcasting. 

Regardless the protest, on February 19, the Council of Advisors approved the plan of the director to reduce staff members in the television. 

With the initiative of Giorgi Kokhreidze, the amendments affected the editorial direction of the television, namely the deputy head of the direction Maia Merkviladze, Giorgi Murvanidze, who was responsible for creative policy, one more deputy of the creative direction Beso Dumbadze and deputy head of the financial service Maia Shashikadze. Consequently, they will have to quit the television. The decision will go in force on February 24, 2020.

For several months, the journalists of the Adjara TV and Radio Broadcasting speak about the oppression, prosecution and censorship from the side of the ruling power of the Adjara Supreme Council and the new director of the television Giorgi Kokhreidze; they plan to change the editorial policy of the Adjara TV and Radio Broadcasting. 

Media Institute declares solidarity with the journalists suffering from the biased policy of Giorgi Kokhreidze and supports their requirements. 

We call on the director of the Adjara TV and Radio Broadcasting Giorgi Kokhreidze to stay strong against the influence of the government because persecution and restriction of the journalists criticizing the government hinders functioning of the Public Broadcasting and it will further increase polarization of the Georgian media environment that will finally hinder democratic development of the country. 

Media Institute 

News