The Communications Commission has issued a written warning to Mtavari Arkhi for violating Georgian legislation and demanded immediate demanded immediate removal of political adverts from the broadcasting network outside the election campaign.

The case concerns political adverts that have been broadcasted on Mtavari Arkhi from 19 December 2019. According to the Georgian legislation, broadcasters are only allowed to place such adverts during the election period.

Broadcasters must ensure that all their adverts comply with the Georgian legislation. Mtavari Arkhi has failed to do so in the given case.

The Commission discussed the aforementioned issue during its public meeting and deemed that Mtavari Arkhi broadcasted adverts that violated the terms of the Georgian legislation. More specifically, the broadcaster was found to have violated the General Administrative Code of Georgia, the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting and the Rules Regulating the Activities of the Georgian National Communications Commission, for which it was issued with a written warning and the demand to immediately remove the video clips in question from the broadcasting network.

The issue of placement of political advertising outside the election period has been a subject of dispute by broadcasters and political parties on numerous occasions in the past. Decisions taken by the Communications Commission were even contested by broadcasters in court. However, the Court of First Instance upheld the ruling of the Commission. Furthermore, a bill to allow political/election advertising outside the election period was prepared by the Alliance of Patriots of Georgia in 2019. However, it failed to receive the backing of the Georgian Parliament.