Statements

Non-governmental organizations call on the Parliament not to override the presidential veto

The signatory organizations welcome the decision of the President of Georgia to veto the amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, which among others foresees the possibility to conduct the public procurement in non-transparent way, increasing the time for placing the commercial advertisements or sponsorship. The presented law significantly increases the risks of non-transparency and the corruption at Georgian Public Service broadcaster. Furthermore, the law will damage the private broadcasters and the Georgian media environment in general. 

Accordingly, the signatory organizations call on the Parliament not to override the presidential veto and take into account the justified arguments provided by the president, members of the parliamentary committee on Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee, the private media and civil society in order to ensure that the amendments to the law will be formulated in way that will not harm the media environment and will be in line with the role and function of the idea of the public service broadcaster. 

Transparency International Georgia 
Georgian Democracy Initiative 
Open Society Georgia Foundation 
Georgian Young Lawyers Association 
Sapari 
Liberal Academy Tbilisi 
The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics 
International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy  
Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) 
The Economic Policy Research Center 
Article 42 of the Constitution 
Human Rights Center 
Media Institute 
Georgia’s Reforms Associates 
CIDA 
Atinati 
We for Sensible Future Community 
Union “Nukriani” 
Bridge of Friendship Kartlosi 
Bolnisi Language House 
Tkibuli District Development Fund 
Akhaltsikhe Youth Center 
Georgian Union of Democratic Development 
Union of Democrat Meskhs For Better Future 
Civic Initiatives Association 
Dusheti Development Foundation 
Ratcha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Self Government Resource Center 
The Center for Civic Monitoring and Research
Anti-Violence Network of Georgia - Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Committee 
Georgian Association of Educational Initiatives 
Regional Development Center 
Inter-Ethnic Unity of Kvemo Kartli 
Association “Spectrum” Georgia 
Rural Council 
Samtskhe Javakheti Media Center 
Women for Regional Development