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ComCom: “It is Critically Important for the Election Observation Missions to Respond Appropriately to Flagrant Violations of the Election Code by Broadcasters”
The Communications Commission calls on the election observation missions to respond to the unprecedented and alarming violations of the law by broadcasters during the pre-election campaign for the 2024 parliamentary elections. Instances of the broadcasters violating the law have not only been identified by the Commission, but also backed up by numerous court decisions. Nevertheless, the election observation missions are yet to respond to these alarming events.
During the pre-election period, Mtavari TV, TV Pirveli and Formula TV jointly took the unlawful decision not to air the political advertisements of the political association “Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia”. Moreover, the broadcasters publically stated that irrespective of the ruling made by the courts in response to the violation report issued by the Communications Commission, they would refuse to air the election ads. Upon identifying the violations by Mtavari TV, TV Pirveli and Formula TV the Communications Commission immediately expressed concern that the action of the broadcasters created a dangerous precedent, as there was a risk of other channels imitating the three broadcasters in question and damaging the election environment.
In light of these risks, the Commission immediately called upon the election observation missions and international organisations to get involved in the process, but no response has been received from their side.
As it happened, Imedi TV, Maestro, PosTV and Rustavi 2 later decided not to air the election ads of the opposition parties.
Pursuant to the legislation in force, broadcasters have the obligation to act in a non-discriminatory manner and offer equal terms to political subjects to ensure that citizens can make an informed choice.
Despite the violation reports of the Communications Commission and the court decisions, broadcasters continue to blatantly violate the law. We therefore once again call upon the election observation missions and international organisations to get involved in the process and provide an adequate response to eliminate illegal actions by the broadcasters and prevent further damage to the pre-election campaign process.
