ComCom Does Not Uphold the Complaint of Georgia’s Future Academy against Teleimedi

ComCom did not uphold the complaint filed against Teleimedi by Georgia’s Future Academy and its founder Aleksandre Zibzibadze. The complainants submitted their complaint to the Commission on the basis of Article 52 (paragraphs 1, 2, 7, 8, 11, and 12) of the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting. The complaint concerned a report aired in Teleimedi’s programme “Chronicle.” According to the complainants, the programme included inaccurate and misleading information about them, which they claimed damaged their reputation. They also requested to exercise the right of reply provided under the Law on Broadcasting. However, Teleimedi refused the request on the grounds that it was unsubstantiated.

According to the circumstances examined by the Communications Commission, the disputed reports concerned the scheme for distributing grants issued by the European Commission to non-governmental organisations, including matters related to the activities of Georgia’s Future Academy, as well as circumstances linked to possible influences on the organisation’s activities.

Taking all of the above into account, the Commission determined that, considering the form, content, and context of the broadcaster’s material, the information presented did not constitute statements of fact but rather allegations. As such, the requirement to ensure due accuracy, which applies to reported facts, did not apply in this case. Accordingly, ComCom did not uphold the complaints filed by Georgia’s Future Academy and Aleksandre Zibzibadze.