45 NGOs urge gov’t “stop attacks, discreditation” on filmmakers, artists

Forty-five domestic non-governmental organisations on Thursday called on the country’s authorities, namely the culture ministry, to stop “attacks and discreditation” on filmmakers and artists, over ongoing reorganisation in the national film centre. 

 

The joint statement by Transparency International Georgia, Human Rights Centre, Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, Sapari and others come amid the protests of the film centre employees and artists, who accuse culture minister Thea Tsulukiani of taking actions to put art “under political censorship”. 

 

The NGOs urged the authorities to “immediately halt” the reorganisation until drafting a procedural document, which they said would be created with “active participation” of the centre employees and representatives from the sector. 

 

They also called on the government to ensure a “safe and enabling environment for artistic creativity” and “guarantee freedom of artistic expression” in the country.  

 

The statement expressed solidarity with filmmaker Salome Jashi, whose documentary on the transportation of gigantic trees by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, had received criticism from government officials, her colleagues, “and all the representatives of the art cultural sector”. 

 

“Artistic freedom of expression plays a vital role in a democratic and inclusive society. Discreditation campaigns from the side of authorities towards cultural sector representatives and limitation or attacks on their artistic freedom of expression is alarming”, said the NGOs. 

 

They noted earlier this month Tsulukiani appointed Koba Khubunia as the acting director of the film centre, who they said had  “ no connection” with the film industry and arts and worked as a deputy head of the National Agency of Crime prevention. 

 

The NGOs claimed the newly appointed director started the process of reorganisation, “which is not transparent and not based neither on discussions nor needs assessment or consultations with the representatives from the sector or employees of the film centre”. 

 

The culture ministry earlier this week rejected the allegations as “unfounded” and linked them to “one of opposition groups”. 

 

The body claimed the reorganisation aimed at “smooth operations” of the centre.