On March 4, 2018, the P.S. program on Rustavi 2 aired a news story on possible involvement of Vasil Maglaperidze, Director General of the Public Broadcaster, and Kakhi Bekauri, Chairperson of the Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC), in the process of selection of members of the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcaster.

After the news story was aired, Kakhi Bekauri wrote on his Facebook page that he was no longer going to let this issue escape his attention and had decided to get actively involved in issues relating to the Public Broadcaster.

The GNCC is a body that regulates the area of broadcasting. Accordingly, it is impermissible for its Chairperson to take part in the processes of selection of members of one of the governing bodies of the Public Broadcaster which is subject to regulation by the GNCC.

The Law of Georgia on Broadcasting also prohibits the Director General of the Public Broadcaster from getting involved in these processes, because the Director General is appointed to this office by the Board of Trustees and is accountable to this body.    

We believe that further functioning of the Public Broadcaster requires that the procedure of selection of its Board of Trustees be conducted correctly and transparently. The GYLA calls upon all the individuals concerned to act in accordance with the legislation of Georgia.