Charter of Journalistic Ethics Says Rustavi 2 Distorted Tbilisi Mayor’s Statement
By Tea Mariamidze
Wednesday, December 19
The Charter of Journalistic Ethics of Georgia assessed that journalists of opposition-minded TV Company Rustavi 2- Diana Jojua and Tamar Baghashvili deliberately distorted the statement of Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze and interpreted it as if the Mayor accused Georgian servicemen in abandoning corps of their co-fighters in 2008 Russia-Georgia August war.
The case concerns the story of Rustavi 2 broadcasted on November 16, 2018, with the title "Mayor of the capital accuses the Georgian military in abandoning the corps of their co-fighters at the battlefield in 2008 war.”
Rustavi 2 stated this was the “heaviest accusations voiced by Kaladze against the Georgian servicemen.”
Diana Jojua said during the TV program Courier that “the mayor accused the Georgian military in betrayal and said the government does not intend to judge them in Hague Court,” which investigates the August War crimes.
Meanwhile, another TV anchor Zaza Papuashvili continued that “Kaladze’s statements were shared by the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party.”
The Charter of Journalistic Ethics says that Diana Jojua and another journalist Tamar Baghashvili violated the 1st and 11th principles of the Charter.
The first principle requires journalists to provide accurate information. According to the Eleventh Principle, deliberate distortion of the fact is considered a serious professional violation.
In addition to this case, during the December 17 sitting, the Charter Council discussed the statement of "AMS Airlines" which also accused Rustavi 2 of distorting the information.
The controversial material was September 30 broadcast, related to the alleged use of Georgian aviation in the money laundering process. According to the story, the airlines operated without permission on the market.
The decision of the Council of Charter of Journalistic Ethics reads Rustavi 2 journalist Mikheil Sesiashvili violated the first principle of the Charter - Accuracy.
