Ia Antadze: “There Is a Huge Problem in the Freedom of Speech in Georgia”

Nona Salaghaia

Freedom of speech is guarantee of independent, civilized and democratic state. Freedom of exchanging opinions means dialogue, civil form of conversation and not mumbling the words. Freedom of speech does not discharge anyone from moral and ethic responsibilities.

Journalist should stand one step higher than the society s/he writes for. His/her speech should be convincing to the society. Nowadays, journalism, as entire Georgia is in crisis, which is expressed not only in restricting the freedom of speech, but also in the misuse of hardly gained independence. We talked about problems in Georgian journalism and about meaning of freedom of speech to the expert of journalist Ia Antadze.

-How will you assess recent political processes in Georgia according to expressing free opinion?

-It is a very difficult question, because residents of Tbilisi live in different condition from those who live in other regions of Georgia. Tbilisi-dwellers can get alternative information on the one hand from the national TV channels and on the other hand from TV Maestro and TV Kavkasia, which give them chance to watch programs according to their political view. People, living in the regions, do not have this opportunity. Basically, they are depended on the national TV channels and they only know what Pirveli Arkhi (First Channel), Rustavi 2 and Imedi TV report. As a rule, these channels broadcast equal information and they broadcast cover the events unilaterally. Similar facts resulted into resignation of some members of the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcasting several days ago; (they are Marine Vekua, Irma Sokhadze, Gia Anchabadze and Mikheil Chiaureli). Unfortunately, TV-broadcasting is not balanced. There are some TV channels which work in favor of the government. Basically, these TV channels interview only those people who are acceptable for the government. There are some TV channels which pay more attention to the opposition parties and broadcast their activities.

-After Communist regime collapsed, it has been very fashionable to speak about the freedom of speech and how to gain it, which is still unrealized dream in Georgian reality. We could not gain freedom of speech as we wished. How do you think, have society and journalism taken the correct course to express free opinion?

-It depends on where the journalist works. I work in Radio “Liberty” and I never have any restriction. Perhaps, there are still some TV channels and radios, where journalist does not have to work against their conscience, but it does not mean that there is no problem of freedom of speech in Georgia. This problem exists and basically it matters with the journalists who work for TV channels. It is obvious that free speech is very limited in Georgia.

-Freedom of speech does not mean abusing and coursing in society as well as in media. Do you think that we did not understand the freedom correctly and made it compliant with the Georgian reality?

-It is a big problem; though it could be resolved. Law on the freedom of speech and expression is liberal and it allows the journalist to write false and not to be responsible for it.  Law gives the journalists a lot of rights, ethic gives less. It is good. It protects the journalists in many situations but there are some ethic requirements. Certain group of journalists is ready to have ethic frames and they feel themselves responsible to the society, not to lie, slander and insult people or political parties. They will do all this basis of agreement with the society.

-Has journalism lost its confidence in society? And how can this fact are explained?

-Of course it is lost. Because of the journalists are censored. This censorship is from the government as well as from the owners of TV channels. But they are one team. The journalists are unprotected and they cannot attend to their duties honestly, which causes mistrust of the population towards journalists. I can explain why our colleagues cannot do their job honestly which of course does not justify them. Political will of professional standards and dignity must be in the country. Otherwise, only the effort of journalists cannot improve the situation.

-Do you think, TV channels have right to call the opposition radical opposition?

-When they have only one demand – resignation of Saakashvili, of course the opposition may be called radical opposition by both the society and media sources. Some people agree with it, some-not.

-How do you think, is the opposition liberal to journalists and to the alternative opinion?

-The opposition parties state, that they try to do their utmost to protect the rights of journalists and allow them to work freely. Sometimes they manage to do it, sometimes they do not. I think we should not divert our attention to the claimings that opposition parties breach the rights of journalists.