Ruling party aims to “limit” media with its new bill on broadcasting – opposition

The members of the United National Movement opposition party on Thursday claimed the ruling Georgian Dream party aimed at “limiting free media” with its proposed amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, which extends the authority of Communications Commission, a domestic regulatory body, while regulating hate speech and incitement to terrorism, which was within the score of the internal regulations. 

 

David Kirkitadze, the United National Movement MP, challenged the position of the ruling party which claimed the bill had been “approved by the European Union”, and said “none of the records of the European recommendation suggest that it should be done in this way”. 

 

“The goal of the Georgian Dream is to limit free media”, Kirkitadze said. 

 

In his comments on Thursday, Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, claimed the GD had sent “three bills” related to the amendments to the EU, and the one approved by the Parliament with its first reading this week had been “selected” by the bloc. 

 

The bill says that the Commission will initially warn the media outlets over violations and in the case of repeated violation they would be fined in the amount of 0.5 percent of their incomes in the last year, with the minimal fine no lower than ₾2,500. The fine will be increased in the case of repeated violations.