Oct. 12, 2024, 5:27 p.m.
Opposition channels in Georgia fined for refusing to run political ads with destroyed Ukrainian cities
Цей матеріал також доступний українською36
Photo: Natia Gugunava/facebook
Opposition TV channels Formula, Pirveli and Mtavari have been fined 5,000 GEL (equal to UAH 72,500) each for refusing to air election ads for the ruling Georgian Dream party featuring destroyed Ukrainian cities, Newsgeorgia reports.
The Tbilisi City Court issued the decision on October 11. Earlier, the National Communications Commission found that the TV channels had violated the electoral law. The ruling party filed a complaint with the regulator directly.
The TV channels explained the blocking of the video by its unethical nature, as well as the presence of calls for national hatred and intimidation of voters. The commission stated that there was nothing wrong with the video and that it did not violate Georgian law.
As a reminder, Georgia's ruling party presented a series of election posters and videos urging voters to "choose peace" and say "no to war." They contrast images of Ukrainian cities destroyed by Russian troops with images of churches, parks, and new buses in Georgia.
TV companies consider the clips to be "Russian propaganda" and "mockery of the Ukrainian people."
The journalists share the assessment of the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Gerczynski, who called the ruling party's advertisements "outrageous, shameful and disgusting." The ambassador emphasized that the price of peace in Georgia and the European Union was "the sacrifice of the Ukrainian people, and they deserve our deepest respect."
The joint statement of the TV companies reads: "The Ivanishvili-dependent government is putting us in a dilemma - either we air the above-mentioned videos or we are subject to huge fines that could lead to the threat of the channels' shutdown."
In September, Formula, Mtavari, and TV Pirveli were fined for refusing to air another provocative Georgian Dream ad. This is a video with the slogan "Say no to the moral degeneration of society" against the background of images of Georgian activists and representatives of civil society.
As a reminder, Georgia will hold parliamentary elections on October 26. The election is expected to be a sharp confrontation between the pro-Russian ruling party Georgian Dream and the opposition.
Earlier, Intent wrote that in May, the ruling party of Georgia managed to pass the law "On Transparency of Foreign Influence" in the parliament. This law is better known as the law on foreign agents, similar to its Russian counterpart, which is why Georgians often refer to it as the Russian law.
Oct. 14, 2024, 9:52 a.m.
Nature's verdict: the boom barriers near the Kerch bridge washed away into the seaOct. 13, 2024, 9:34 p.m.
Voter bribery is a serious problem for elections in Moldova: ENEMO preliminary reportOct. 13, 2024, 2:57 p.m.
A popular domain may cease to existOct. 11, 2024, 9:52 a.m.
An exhibition dedicated to the history of the Crimean Tatar people opened in the Estonian ParliamentOct. 10, 2024, 3:38 p.m.
Verkhovna Rada calls to recognize deportation of Crimean Tatars from Crimea as an act of genocideOct. 7, 2024, 5:24 p.m.
Representatives of Latin America condemn the annexation of the Crimean peninsulaOct. 6, 2024, 3:12 p.m.
Three opposition channels in Georgia face sanctions for refusing to advertise with destroyed cities in UkraineOct. 2, 2024, 3:56 p.m.
Fevzi Mamutov told about the crimes of the occupiers in Crimea at the OSCE conferenceSept. 29, 2024, 10:43 p.m.
Mykolaiv mayor reports on his business trip to WashingtonSept. 24, 2024, 9:58 p.m.
UN Security Council meets to discuss war in UkraineSept. 24, 2024, 9:56 a.m.
Ukrainian Ambassador in court in The Hague: Kerch bridge is illegal and must be dismantledSept. 23, 2024, 10:49 p.m.
UN General Assembly rejects Russian amendments to the Pact for the FutureSept. 22, 2024, 9:04 a.m.
French Embassy opposes renaming of village in Odesa regionSept. 20, 2024, 9:58 a.m.
Ukraine responds to proposals to place Crimea under UN mandateOct. 14, 2024, 9:52 a.m.
Nature's verdict: the boom barriers near the Kerch bridge washed away into the sea