Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) begins new project, which aims to develop free media environment in Georgia. ''Within the frames of the project GYLA will systematically study the facts of meddling and hampering in the activities of journalists and media means and will evaluate the response of the state on them. In special cases, GYLA will provide legal assistance to journalists and media organizations'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. As a response to IDFI’s request, on November 26th, Georgian National Communications Commission denied broadcast to the domestic provider of channel ‘ORT’ and held responsible Ltd "R.B.G.” for the rebroadcast of programs from the Russian public broadcaster.  ''Ltd "R.B.G.” was obliged to pay a fine of 2500 GEL because the company could not present allowances or licenses for the rightful production of the broadcast before providing the channel. The company was also warned by the commission on failing to fulfil the necessary payment as well as failing to display the related declaration on its website. The published commission report says, "On an open meeting of Georgian National Communications Commission, Ltd "R.B.G.” could not prove their lawful ownership of reproducing programs of the Russian public broadcaster and was therefore restricted to broadcast these programs,'' is noted in the statement.  In full... Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The number of cases reviewed by the council of the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics increases from year to year. From the year 2010 to date, the charter has made decision on 72 cases in total, while in 2015 the council has reviewed 32 cases. In the majority of the cases the first principle (accuracy) has been defined violated. Besides statistical data, on the web-page of the charter you may find the complete list of the cases, both reviewed and to be reviewed, as well as the justified decisions. In full… Source:qartia.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Association of Regional Broadcasters (GARB) requests Dimitri Qumsishvili, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, to enquire the problem of the Batumi TV Company ''TV channel – 25'' and respond respectively. In accordance with the information, provided to the association, the installation of the necessary equipment for digital broadcasting on an Ombolauri tower, near Batumi, has not been managed till today. It is the third month that the channel is waiting for the permission on the utilization of the tower and does not get the answer. In full… Source:www.media.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia releases report ''Rustavi 2's history in the aftermath of the 2012 parliamentary elections''.  In full... Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The organization - "Young Barristers” comments on the pre-judgment circumstances, related to the ruling, endorsed by the Tbilisi City Court on November 5 of the year 2015. ''I consider that the defenders of legitimate interests of the TV Company made significant mistake when, after the decision of the court on November 3, they did not apply to the constitutional court and contest the matter of the constitutionality of Article 198 of the Civil Procedure Code'' – declares the head of Young Barristers. In full… Source:barristers.ge

Tbilisi. ''We would like to respond to the Tbilisi City Court decision upon the replacement of current leadership of Rustavi 2 by interim managers. We believe that the court decision is at variance with the constitutional order and leads to further escalation of the situation. Constitutional Court's decision rendered weeks ago on the suspension of the norms concerning immediate execution was a good opportunity to discuss and resolve the issues related to the TV Company in the courtroom and to avoid street protests. Considering the subsequent actual results, Tbilisi City Court decision is inconsistent with the spirit of the decision made by the Constitutional Court. Rationale for the decision of Tbilisi City Court is not in line with the practice of the European Court'', is noted in the statement. In full... Source: www.osgf.ge

Tbilisi. ''Media Advocacy'' Coalition makes the statement regarding the Rustavi 2 case. ''The coalition considers that the appointment of the plaintiff’s candidates – stakeholders by the court on a TV Company Manager position does not serve even the disputable objective, which is defined in the ruling; in particular, to ensure that the company is managed by impartial individuals. The coalition hopes that the other units of judiciary will take into account those threats, which are created by this precedent to all means of media, civil society, business and the democratic development of the country'' – is noted in the statement of the coalition. In full… Source:www.osgf.ge

Tbilisi. On Thursday, November 5, Judge Tamaz Urtmelidze of the Tbilisi City Court issued a ruling to secure the enforcement of the decision regarding the case of "Rustavi 2,” on the basis of the application of the plaintiff – the lawyer of Kibar Khalvashi, a businessmen affiliated with the Government.  ''Through his 5 November ruling, the judge appointed as temporary administrators of Rustavi 2 Revaz Sakevarishvili, former director of the Imedi TV station which is Rustavi-2’s competitor, and Davit Dvali, one of the founders and former shareholders of Rustavi 2... On November 4, after issuing the Summary Decision, the lawyers of Kibar Khalvashi requested the usage of additional provisions from the Court, which implied the appointment of temporary administrators. On November 5, Judge Urtmelidze ruled in favor of the mentioned request. According to the Civil Procedure Code of Georgia, if the Judge takes measures to ensure the enforcement of the decision, this should be indicated in the court decision. Issuing such rulings by the court of the same instance after the Final Decision is unlawful'', is noted in the statement. In full... Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organization ''Identoba'' responds to the TV show ''Nichieri'' (Georgia’s Got Talent), broadcasted through the Rustavi 2 channel on November 2. "We regret that the attitude of the panel members and the audience towards some of the contestants has worn homophobic, transphobic and sexist nature. Providing such content to the audience through the air of the rated show has a negative impact on the everyday lives of individuals, victims of intolerance. ''Identoba'' requests TV Company Rustavi 2 to review attentively non-broadcasted series and in case of existence clear them from discriminatory expression” – is noted in the statement of the organization. In full… Source: identoba.org

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has released information on the court case of the TV Company Rustavi 2 through the social network. ''Transparency International – Georgia'' will request the case material and the reasoning of the decision from the court, after which it will provide the public with a detailed legal analysis of the ''Rustavi 2'' case'' – is stated in the social network. In full… Source:The web-page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information has submitted the statement to the Georgian National Communications Commission. ''IDFI has requested to sanction the ''r.b.j.'' ltd. for infraction of the requirements of the law of Georgia on ''broadcasting''. The statement is based on the program monitoring, performed by the authorized parson appointed by the IDFI, and the results of which show that the ''r.b.j.'' ltd. provides transmission of the ORT - Public Russian Television first channel programs through the open-air digital network'' – is noted in the statement of the organization. In full… Source:idfi.ge

Tbilisi. The organization "Young Barristers” responds to the wiretap recordings, uploaded by the Ukrainian site. ''Developing events with a revolutionary scenario by the individuals, participating in the phone conversation, provoking crime and deliberately allowing violence in the occasion of declaring the decision on the court case, related to the TV Company ''Rustavi 2'', and starting its enforcement process is nothing else, but the offence against the constitutional order and security basics of Georgia'' – is noted in the statement of the organization. In full… Source:www.barristers.ge

Tbilisi. On October 29, Giorgi Margvelashvili, the President of Georgia, will meet with the representatives of Civil Society Organizations. ''Regarding the meeting the President has responded to the joint statement of those non-governmental organizations, which have supported the necessity of such dialog at the meeting, organized by ''Young Barristers'' on October 25, 2015 in connection with the case of the TV Company ''Rustavi 2'', concerning independent judiciary, media pluralism and freedom of expression in the country'' – is noted in the statement of the organization. In full... Source:www.barristers.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association comments about video coverage on torture, broadcasted via the TV Company ''Obieqtivi''. ''We consider it unacceptable to have mentioned video coverage transmitted by the media in the above said manner, because it violates the right of victims to privacy and may have severe psychological consequences as for the victims themselves, as for their family members and the general public'' – is noted in the statement of the organization. In full... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to the investigation, started on the basis of the charge regarding overthrow of the government. ''We call on the State Security Service to make a clarification about the real reason of launching an investigation and to provide the information about the investigation process to the public''… - is noted in the statement of the organization. In full… Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. ''Young Barristers'' organized a meeting as a discussion platform for civil society organizations, specialists of law, media experts and constitutionalists. The meeting was dedicated to the evaluation of public events, taking place in regard to the ''Rustavi 2'' case. ''We consider that the position of the government, not to interfere into judicial dispute, is correct. We call on the government to unequivocally refrain from the intervention into the process, while the President Giorgi Margvelashvili to avoid making such statements, as he addressed to the judge Tamaz Urtmelidze, which cannot be appraised otherwise, than the pressure on the judge'' – is noted in the joint statement. In full… Source:www.barristers.ge

Tbilisi. Media Advocacy coalition resonates to recent developments.   ''We call on the Georgian Government and the members of the Parliament to give supremacy to freedom of media over political interests, not to encourage violence and to prevent attacks against journalists within the area of their competence'', noted in the statement. In full... Source: idfi.ge

Adjara. The Institute for Democracy releases the statement regarding the TV Company ''Rustavi 2''. ''The statement of Nika Gvaramia is a disturbing information that requires investigation and ascertaining the truth about the issue as soon as possible, otherwise this information and the latest developments and processes, taking place around the TV Company, pose a direct threat to freedom of speech in the country, and in general to the process of democratic development'' – is noted in the statement of the Institute. In full… Source:iod.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency international Georgia published a detailed study: Who owns Georgia's media? "This report is based on public records and information provided by media outlets. In order to receive detailed information, TI Georgia conducted dozens of interviews with the representatives of news websites”, noted in the statement. In full... Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Non-Governmental Organizations release a joint statement regarding Rustavi 2 and address to Diplomatic Corps. ''We appeal to the recipients of this address to demand termination of politically motivated attacks on Rustavi 2. For democratic development of Georgia it is essential to strengthen media pluralism, political diversity and independence of the judiciary, particularly within the period of going towards the parliamentary elections of the 2016 year'' – is noted in the statement. In full… Source:www.cida.ge