Georgian opposition-leaning channels fined for refusing to air ruling party’s Ukraine war-themed election ads

Tbilisi City Court has fined three opposition-leaning TV channels – Mtavari TV, Formula and TV Pirveli – ₾5,000 each for refusing to broadcast an election advertisement from the ruling party, Georgian Dream. The ad, which features stark images of Ukraine’s war-torn cities, has been deemed “immoral” by the broadcasters.

The fine followed complaints by the GD to the Communications Commission, accusing the channels of violating election campaign regulations. Representatives of the TV channels argued that the ad contained war propaganda, aimed at instilling fear among voters to sway support in favor of the ruling party. They described the material as a form of manipulation.

On October 5, the channels issued a joint statement condemning the advertisements, vowing not to air content they viewed as “Russian propaganda” and a mockery of the Ukrainian people. The statement aligned with the view of EU Ambassador Pawel Herczynski, who earlier criticized the campaign as “outrageous, disgraceful, and appalling.”

The controversial election ads, which juxtapose images of war-torn Ukraine with peaceful scenes from Georgia, have sparked widespread debate. Georgian Dream has also brought similar content in video format to TV stations, which previously faced penalties for removing a clip that called for a return to “traditional values.”