**Georgian Public Broadcaster Under Fire**
A group of protesters blocked traffic in front of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GBP) on December 1. They were demanding that the channel’s leadership meet with them. The protesters want more freedom to express themselves on live TV and for opposition leaders, including President Salome Zurabishvili, to be heard.
The GBP said it was willing to give President Zurabishvili airtime “even today”. However, the tone between the channel and the protesters has become more hostile. The GBP complained of pressure from certain TV channels and called on authorities to protect journalists.
**Protests Escalate**
On November 30, protesters camped outside the GBP building, demanding that the channel broadcast a range of opinions and stop promoting the ruling party‘s views. The debate between protesters and the channel’s leaders resulted in a long live broadcast where opposition representatives, journalists, and citizens addressed the nation.
The GBP later condemned “violence” and called on authorities to investigate incidents against journalists. However, critics say the channel is biased towards the ruling Georgian Dream party and doesn’t give enough airtime to opposition views.
**Background**
The GBP receives funding from the government and has faced criticism for bias in the past. There was a disagreement between the channel’s leadership and the Georgian Dream party last year over changes to the funding scheme, but it was later resolved.
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