The parliamentary elections are looming, and the Government of Georgia declared a ferocious fight against disinformation. However, rather than exposing Russian or other malign actors’ hostile disinformation, the authorities have been targeting nationwide TV outlets critical of the government.
Kakha Kaladze, the Tbilisi Mayor and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, announced a campaign to fight the spread of disinformation and fake news. On June 9, he had the first “debunk” Facebook live, followed by a second on June 25. In both live videos, the mayor targeted three opposition TV channels – Mtavari Arkhi, TV Pirveli and Formula TV, labelling them as fake news disseminators.
The Georgian State Security Service has launched an investigation into Mtavari TV’s report under the sabotage article. The report aired by Mtavari Arkhi TV (the biggest opposition minded nationwide broadcaster) claimed that the Government of Georgia was offering money to the citizens of the Marneuli Municipality to register the passing of their family members as COVID-19 related deaths. Marneuli residents, journalists, civic activists, as well as the leader of the opposition Republican Party, Khatuna Samnidze, were summoned by the State Security Service for interrogation. The case is still active and decisions have yet to have been made. See the full story here.
According to NGOs and media experts, this may be classed as pressure on critical media and an attempt to violate the independence of private TV channels. Notably, the pro-Russian media outlets in Georgia are spreading far more dangerous content on a daily basis, which according to the State Security Service accusation of Mtavari Arkhi TV, would definitely fit into the sabotage category, however no cases have been registered against them.
Yet another sign of the authorities’ increased appetite to pressure critical media ahead of the elections relates to the new law-project registered in the Georgian Parliament. The latter authorizes the Georgian National Communication Commission to appoint a special manager in any company with an electronic communications license. The initiative is largely criticized by media representatives and experts who see the adoption of the amendments as damaging to media freedom in Georgia.
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