GYLA slams ruling party for complaints against broadcasters as threat to press freedom

NGO Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has issued a statement defending media freedom following the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party's complaints against government-critical broadcasters. GYLA stressed that freedom of expression without state censorship is a core element of democracy and should serve the public, not the government.

On June 5 Communications Commission of Georgia has accepted complaints from the ruling party against the broadcasters TV Pirveli and Formula, alleging violations of the Law on Broadcasting. The Commission plans to hold a substantive hearing on June 19 at 3:00 PM. The TV stations had argued the complaints should be dismissed, but the Commission ruled otherwise.

Georgian Dream’s complaints, registered on May 2, claim the stations blurred the line between facts and opinions by using phrases like “illegitimate parliament,” “so-called speaker of parliament,” “oligarch’s deputy,” “regime’s city court,” “Georgian Dream regime,” and “regime’s prisoner,” as well as referring to the GD founder, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili as an “oligarch.” They allege violations of Articles 54, 59^1, and 76 of the Law on Broadcasting, which concern principles of fairness and impartiality.

However, GYLA argues that Article 54’s vague and broad wording opens the door to censorship and undue interference in editorial policy. It notes that similar regulations have been criticized by the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, which found they contradict international standards and the Georgian Constitution’s protection of freedom of expression under Article 17.

The lawyers’ group stresses that freedom of the press extends to robust and even provocative commentary that may be unpleasant or shocking to some, so long as it contributes to public debate. It also warns that using these legal provisions to control content violates European Court of Human Rights case law and threatens the democratic role of journalists.

“Freedom of the press means the ability to share ideas without state censorship, and it is inseparable from democracy because the press should serve the people, not the rulers. It further cautioned that ongoing attempts to regulate editorial content or discourage critical coverage of the government are part of a broader pattern, which includes both physical and verbal attacks on journalists during protests and smear campaigns aimed at discrediting media outlets,” GYLA wrote.