The Communications Commission has upheld the complaint filed by Georgian Dream. It has also recognized opposition-leaning Mtavari TV and TV Pirveli as violators of Georgia’s Electoral Code, and issued them a protocol of administrative violation. ComCom received a complaint that these channels had not broadcasted GD’s campaign advertisements.
According to ComCom’s press release, Mtavari TV TV Pirveli, and Formula TV sent letters of response stating they refused to broadcast GD’s political advertisement due to its unethical nature and war propaganda which incites national conflict and intimidates voters by war.
Georgian Dream’s latest political ad is based upon its campaign banners. These juxtapose the war-torn Ukraine and the “peace”, offered by GD, and aim, reinforcing GD’s war against peace campaign pillar. The banners displayed the devastation caused by Russia‘s war on Ukraine on one side, and similar locations in a “peaceful Georgia” on the other. The slogan is: “Say no war – choose peace” and the numbers of the main coalitions of opposition are crossed out.
ComCom notes that the Supreme Court of Georgia has ruled that it is illegal to broadcast political advertisements that contain propaganda for war or violence, call for the overthrow of existing authorities, violently disrupt public order, call for the violation of Georgia’s territorial integrity, cause national discord and hatred, and incite religious and ethnic conflict. ComCom states that the unethical nature of advertisements, as determined by the Supreme Court of Georgia’s practice, is not the subject of a broadcaster’s assessment. Therefore, ComCom concludes the broadcaster’s refusal to place any political advertising is a violation of law.
ComCom continues to state that “based upon Georgian legislation and court practices, the Communications Commission believes that the video ad doesn’t contain either war propaganda, or an incitement of national strife and enmity as cited by broadcasters.” ComCom also states that “the ad did not violate the Electoral Code of Georgia,” and that “the broadcasters had to broadcast GD’s election ad.”
If the opposition media refuses to air GD’s campaign video featuring war-torn Ukraine and faces fines, they will be punished
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