The Statement of the Media Advocacy Coalition concerning TV Company TV3
On the basis of the May 20, 2013 decision#343/11 of the Georgian National Communications’ Commission, Kakha Baindurashvili became the owner of the 9% share of TV3.
As it is known, Mr. Baindurashvili is also the President of the LEPL Chamber of Commerce and Trade. The Chamber of Commerce and Trade, as a legal entity of public law, is an administrative body, and its President is an administrative body official.
According to Article 37 and 371 of the law on “Broadcasting”, a license holder/ authorized entity or its beneficiary owner cannot be an official of the administrative body.
The conformity declaration of the TV3 signed by Kakha Baindurashvili, the director of the TV3 contains confirmation that beneficiary owner of the TV3 is not an official of the administrative agency.
The same disagreement is in case of Energy Group LLC, where Kakha Baindurashvili is the director of the LLC and owner of 20% shares. On August 26, 2013 Energy Group LLC became the winner of the announced competition for radio broadcasting licenses in Tbilisi, and the Commission made decision on issuing license on November 1, 2013.
The Coalition members regard it as ignorance of the stipulations of the law on Broadcasting from the side of TV3 and Energy Group, as well as gross violation of legislative principles established for releasing media from political influence. We call on the NGCC to take adequate measures for elimination of the violations.
Coalition member organizations:
1. Open Society Georgia Foundation;
2. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association;
3. The Charter of Ethics of the Georgian Journalists;
4. Regional Broadcasters’ Association;
5. Regional Broadcasters’ network;
6. Regional Media Association;
7. Media Club;
8. Press Association;
9. Levan Mikeladze Foundation;
10. Freedom of Information Development Institute;
11. Civil Society Institute
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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
