The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics has expressed support for the joint statement issued by three major broadcasters—Mtavari Arkhi, TV Pirveli, and Formula TV—following their decision not to air an election campaign video requested by the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party.
In their decision, the broadcasters stated earlier that they would not broadcast the video due to its ’immoral’ content.
“The Charter of Journalistic Ethics supports the decision of the TV companies Formula, Mtavari Arkhi, and TV Pirveli to oppose Georgian Dream’s unethical election campaign. We urge the National Communications Commission of Georgia not to force these outlets to air the ruling party’s video, which echoes Kremlin propaganda, insults both the Ukrainian and Georgian people, and undermines the historic friendship between these two nations.
Similar election banners displayed in public have caused pain to the Ukrainian people and sparked justifiable outrage within Georgian society,” the Charter stated.
The controversy surrounds election campaign banners and advertisements of the Georgian Dream. In response, Formula, Mtavari Arkhi, and TV Pirveli issued a joint statement on Saturday calling for action from the international community.
“Georgian Dream continues to speculate on the Ukrainian people’s tragedy to further its political campaign, and they are now demanding that we air these immoral ads, which they have already displayed on billboards across the streets,” the statement reads.
In late September, new election banners from the Georgian Dream party appeared on the streets, which read “No to war! Choose peace!” The banners are split into two parts. On one side, they depict cities, buildings, and infrastructure destroyed by Russia in Ukraine, while the other side shows Georgian cities. The bombed Ukrainian cities are shown in black and white, whereas Georgia is represented in color.
