Following ISFED’s complaint, the Communications Commission found news agencies in violation of election rules
Following ISFED’s complaint, the National Communications Commission (GNCC) found news agencies Reporter and MPress in violation of rules for publishing polling results. By November 12, 2015 decision of the GNCC, protocols of administrative offence were prepared against the said agencies and transferred to Tbilisi City Court for further actions.
The protocol is based on Article 82 of the Election Code that prescribes a fine of 1500 laris for violating rules that apply to publishing of public opinion poll results about elections.
On September 30, a day before Sakrebulo and parliamentary by-elections, news agencies Reporter and MPress released results of opinion survey of voters.
The Election Code stipulates: “Publication of public opinion poll results, except for the possible number of voters in the elections and the number of voters participating in the elections on the polling day, shall be prohibited within 48 hours before the polling day and until 20:00 of that day.”
The news agencies violated the law by releasing poll results 48 hours ahead of the elections. Notably, address cited as source of the survey by one of the news agencies could not be found.