PM: “No one Can Compromise the Achievement Called Media Freedom”
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Thursday, February 22
(TBILISI)--The Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has responded to the current stir in the opposition that the media outlets in the country are being suppressed by the Georgian Dream government.
“I absolutely must comment on the recent unhealthy hype surrounding so-called pressure on the media,” Kvirikashvili said.
“Under our government, accusations of this kind are total nonsense. Things like this can by no means be happening under our government. I would like everyone to know that it is equally impossible under our government for anyone to use their own businesses to blackmail the authorities, and this is exactly the case, as we have seen, that we are dealing with,” Kvirikashvili said.
The PM stated that the Georgian Dream government, which has ensured that new TV stations can register and commence broadcasters in a matter of days, cannot accept these accusations.
“No one can compromise the achievement called media freedom under our government. I say with full responsibility that things like this cannot be possibly happening,” Kvirikashvili stated.
The United National Movement opposition claims that the government is carrying out the pressure on the TV PIrveli channel and is trying to totally control the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB).
The civil sector, the opposition and the president are unanimous that the planned changes in the broadcasting law, which provides benefits for the GPB with more than 50 million state financing, will affect private media outlets.
The trio also stand against the newly appointed GPB head, the Georgian Dream affiliate Vasil Maglaperidze, and his decisions to close several programs of the public broadcaster.
