According to Transparency International Georgia, the National Communications Commission has effectively barred media outlets from using 93 words and phrases. Among them are “[Bidzina] Ivanishvili’s prime minister,” “oligarch,” “judicial clan,” and other expressions.
According to the NGO, over the past six months, the regulatory authority has drawn up violation protocols seven times on these grounds against critical television channels TV Pirveli and Formula. Following an oral warning, the fines were initially set at 2,500 and 5,000 GEL (approximately $950 and $1,900, respectively) and have now increased to 10,000 GEL (around $3,850).
“The Communications Commission operates as an overt censor targeting critical media outlets. At its session on October 1, the commission fined Formula TV for the third time for using words and phrases deemed unacceptable to Georgian Dream—this time imposing a fine of 10,000 GEL.
In total, over the past six months, the commission has drawn up protocols seven times on these grounds against opposition broadcasters TV Pirveli and Formula. Following an oral warning, the fines amounted to 2,500 and 5,000 GEL, and have now escalated to 10,000 GEL.
Which words has the commission taken issue with? A total of 93 banned words and expressions have been identified. Among them: ‘regime,’ ‘prisoners of conscience,’ ‘oligarch,’ ‘perjuring police officers,’ ‘political prisoners,’ ‘Ivanishvili’s prime minister,’ ‘unlawful detention,’ ‘Dream’s rule,’ ‘repressive laws,’ and ‘judicial clan.’
It is evident that the commission is attempting in this way to paralyze and undermine broadcasters that are already in a precarious financial situation. Furthermore, the regulator has the power to suspend the broadcasting licenses of critical channels,” stated Transparency International.
The organization pointed out that this is taking place against the backdrop of the United Kingdom imposing sanctions “against pro-government propaganda TV channels Imedi and POSTV for deliberately spreading disinformation about the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine and aiding Russian propaganda.”
“The ruling team decides for itself whom to punish and in what manner in order to silence critical voices,” the statement reads.
