On September 11, the Communications Commission (ComCom) ruled in favor of Georgian Dream‘s complaint against Mtavari TV. The channel had refused to air GD’s political campaign advertisement, citing concerns about hate speech and potential violations of broadcasting and advertising laws.
Mtavari TV specifically pointed to two frames in the video as problematic. One showed CSO representatives in black with the words “Say no to moral degradation” written in red, while the other showed opposition politicians in black with blood stains and the words “Say no to the dark past” in red.
However, after listening to arguments from both sides, ComCom determined that the ad did not contain hate speech or incitement to violence. It stated that the video was simply intended to present the pre-election vision of the political union and did not violate any laws. Therefore, the channel was obligated to broadcast it.
This decision by ComCom highlights the ongoing tension between the government and media outlets in Georgia. The fact that the channel was initially hesitant to air the advertisement and that the government had to file a complaint to ensure its broadcast raises concerns about freedom of speech and the media’s ability to operate independently.
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