The Statement of Media Advocacy Coalition on the Current Situation in Georgian Public Broadcaster
Media Advocacy Coalition considers situation in the Public Broadcaster alarming.
Two members of the Board of Trustees wrote an application on resignation, while others link their decision to the implemented pressure on the Board. Other members also alleged about coercion. Moreover, seven members left in the Board are not authorized to make decisions. Following dismissal of the general director acting director manages the public broadcaster. The process of closing programs and selecting new projects on the Channel I is not transparent and is carried out without public consultations. According to official statement, public broadcaster suffers severe financial crisis that puts at risk proper functioning of the channel.
The situation once again proves necessity of the reform in the public broadcaster initiated by the Media Advocacy Coalition. The initiative was reflected in the Law on Broadcasting which along with other issues implies operation of the new rule of manning Board of Trustees from January 1, 2014.
Coalition "Media Advocacy" considers necessary to:
• stop implementation of coercion upon the members of the board and intervention in independent activities of the public broadcaster;
• investigate instances of coercion on the Board members and intervention in activities of the public broadcaster;
• avoid alteration of planned reforms and terms for the reason of crisis created in the public broadcaster;
• overcome financial crisis and maintain smooth functioning of the public broadcaster with application of all legislative tools by the state authority.
ჯ. კახიძის #15, თბილისი, საქართველო, 0102 ; ტელ: (995 32) 95 23 53; ფაქსი: (995 32) 92 32 11; ელ-ფოსტა: gyla@gyla.ge; www.gyla.ge
15, J. Kakhidze str. 0102, Tbilisi, Georgia. Tel: (995 32) 95 23 53; Fax: (995 32) 92 32 11; E-mail: gyla@gyla.ge; www.gyla.ge
