ComCom: Transparency International Georgia Is Misleading the Public

The Communications Commission is responding to the information disseminated by Transparency International Georgia, which is misleading the public. We emphasise that the Communications Commission does not maintain any list on the basis of which it sanctions broadcasters. There are no phrases or words that have been banned by the Communications Commission. 

The material published by Transparency International Georgia refers to the statutory requirements that broadcasters must comply with. Under the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting, broadcasters are prohibited from covering news and political programmes on the basis of their personal attitudes or opinions. Broadcasters are prohibited from presenting information reflecting political or other forms of confrontation, or current public policy issues, in news and political programmes based on their personal attitudes or opinions. Therefore, the restriction applies not only to expressing a broadcaster’s position, but also to covering political or other forms of confrontation and current public policy issues in a manner that reflects that position. 

The Communications Commission has held numerous working meetings with broadcasters on these content regulation requirements and has developed and published the relevant guidelines to help broadcasters comply with the law. We reiterate that the Commission’s objective is not to sanction broadcasters, but to ensure enforcement of the law by establishing high media standards and protecting the public interest. 

The Communications Commission will continue to take appropriate actions to ensure effective enforcement of the law.