Georgian media, NGOs slam ruling party's complaints against critical media, point to censorship threats

Civil society and media organizations in Georgia have issued a joint statement condemning the complaints filed to the Communications Commission by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, against leading independent broadcasters TV Pirveli, Formula, and Mtavari TV. The statement describes the complaints as “a direct attempt to impose censorship,” citing efforts to prohibit the use of a list of critical terms like “regime prisoners” and “illegitimate parliament.”

The organizations accuse the Communications Commission of being under the control of the ruling party and say the complaints represent “a clear and dangerous attempt to intimidate critical media and suppress independent journalism.” They argue that broadcasters are merely engaging in critical and investigative journalism and expressing editorial opinions of significant public interest, protected by law.

“This is part of a broader authoritarian trend in which state institutions are used to silence critical voices and shrink civic space,” the statement warns. It calls for international partners to “clearly and publicly condemn the abuse of regulatory instruments against independent media” and to ensure that the Communications Commission acts with political impartiality.

The complaints come at a time of widespread criticism over the legitimacy of the 2024 parliamentary elections and amid a crackdown on peaceful protests, where hundreds of demonstrators have faced torture, arbitrary detention, or prosecution on unfounded charges. Civil society groups argue these efforts to censor the media violate both the Georgian Constitution and international human rights obligations.

They urge the international community to raise this issue at a high level, emphasizing that “independent media must be able to ask critical questions and demand answers.”

Several days ago Georgian Dream filed complaints with the country’s Communications Regulatory Commission against 3 television channels over the use of terms such as “regime,” “oligarchic regime,” and “illegitimate government.”

The complaint argues that journalists also should not use terms like “regime,” “Russification,” or “clan court.”

The complaints are set to be publicly discussed on June 5 at the Communications Regulatory Commission, an independent body led since 2017 by Kakhaber Bekauri, the former director of GD founder billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili’s TV station Ninth Channel.