Tbilisi. Rights Georgia publishes a blog post of Nana Mchedlidze: Protection of confidentiality of a journalistic source. “This blog post contains a review of European standards for protection of confidentiality of a journalistic source. Whether it is or not the right of a journalist to protect confidentiality of his/her source, the absolute right and what the measures are that may be followed by identification of a journalistic source”. Read more… Source: rights.ge

Tbilisi. People in Need is starting an online educational course: "Digital transformation Media School" on Moodle educational platform. “The program will enhance the adoption of digital technologies for fighting against disinformation and advance their media literacy skills. The training program offers participants training videos and interesting reading materials”. Find out more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Samtxkhe-Javakheti. A two day seminar was conducted for Georgian media representatives in Borjomi. “The seminar was attended by 20 journalists. Participants reviewed the gender statistics and indicators produced and disseminated by Geostat. They also discussed how to use such tools in practice. At the same time, Geostat representatives listened to the journalists’ feedback, which can be used to improve accessability of gender statistics in the future”. Read more… Source: georgia.unwomen.org

Tbilisi. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics condemns the statement made by the Mayor of Tbilisi on July 20, according to which the Mayor compared activities of the media to actions of violent groups. “The Charter urges representatives of the authorities to refrain from encouraging attacks on members of the media with their aggressive attitudes, as well as to stop talking about norms restricting freedom of thought, speech and expression, support freedom of media and switch to a mode of business relations”. Read more… Source: www.qartia.ge

Tbilisi. “Media Advocacy Coalition” expresses its concern in regard to a statement of the Prime Minister discrediting “Mtavari Channel”, “TV Pirveli” and “Formula”, as well as threatening Nika Gvaramia. “At the July 17 public event with the participation of Garibashvili, there were invited only some representatives of the media. According to the explanation of the press service of the Prime Minister, “the Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili considers that “Mtavari Channel”, “TV Pirveli” and “Formula” have crossed all red lines, they represent a specific political party, are funded and directly controlled by Mikheil Saakashvili and his radical forces, as well as involved in a political campaign against the Prime Minister”. Respectively, this is the reason, for which mentioned TV companies were not invited to the event. It also became known that members of the violent group threaten Nika Gvaramia with deprivation of his life for blocking the Alt-Info Facebook channel. “We call on the Prime Minister of Georgia to stop discrediting the media within the framework of high public responsibility. We call on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to launch an investigation into the statement containing intimidation against Nika Gvaramia”. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. USAID/Georgia Mission Director Peter Wiebler met with journalists and media sector advocates from Radio Liberty, Transparency International Georgia, the Media Development Foundation, the Open Society Georgia Foundation, and IREX. “At the meeting, they discussed the current challenges facing Georgia’s media sector, how programs and advocacy initiatives can help address them, and opportunities for sustained future USAID assistance”.                                                      Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. FactCheck (FactCheck.ge), a fact-checking website of Georgia’s Reforms Associates, publishes a blog post: What did Charles Michel actually say when he mentioned one generation? “A lot of social media sites have spread news as if Michel stated in his speech: “One generation is the distance that separates your society from the doors of the European Union”. According to the translation released by the platform, the President of the Council of Europe in reality said: “I believe our Eastern Partnership is the locomotive for transformation, prosperity and growth. It is equally a powerful symbol of openness, mutual confidence and of our cooperation. It has been one generation of independence for you. And in this one generation, the distance between your societies and the EU has shrunk in unprecedented ways. The EU is your most committed partner for greater democracy, for greater stability, for greater prosperity, and above all, for the benefits of the people of your countries”. Read more… Source: factcheck.ge

Tbilisi. According to information released by International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Facebook has officially confirmed to the organization that the Facebook page of Alt-Info has been deleted based on the ISFED report. ISFED contacted Facebook and informed it about hate speech statements and calls for mobilization of violent groups made by Alt-Info on its platform. “According to the decision of the relevant department of Facebook, Alt-Info violated Facebook Terms and Policies”. Read more... Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. Myth Detector publishes a blog post prepared by Tamar Kintsurashvili and Keti Khutsishvili: Strategy of violent groups of Kremlin: Burning of Western symbols should become a norm. “Disruption of the Pride March of Tbilisi Pride and violence against journalists committed by violent groups were inspired by aggressive and threatening statements of “Alt-Info”, a TV Company connected with the party of Levan Vasadze – “Unity, Identity, Hope”. TV hosts of the Company were even among organizers of the violent contraction carried out on July 5”. Read more… Source: mythdetector.ge

Tbilisi. According to information released by International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), a version of overdose death of Lashkarava was posted on the Facebook page of “Marshalpress” about an hour earlier than the Ministry drew our attention to this information at its first briefing. “There was mentioned Ioseb Khimshiashvili, some politician, in the material as a source of it. Soon the online edition disseminated the news via open groups in an organized manner. Otar Stepanishvili, the founder of “Marshalpress”, was among those who shared the post”.                                                              Source: The website of the organization on a social network

Tbilisi. Public Defender releases a statement on Investigation of Actions of Organizers of July 5-6 events. “As of July 12, 2021, no criminal proceedings have been launched against any person by the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the Prosecutor General's Office of Georgia for organizing violent, hate crimes that took place on July 5 and 6 in Tbilisi. We call on the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor's Office to identify the main persons responsible for the actions of the alleged violent groups as soon as possible, as a matter of priority, and to launch criminal proceedings against them, as well as to proactively inform the public about the progress of the investigation. The Public Defender also calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to conduct an effective investigation into the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Alexandre Lashkarava, who was one of the victims of the July 5-6 violent attacks, and to establish a causal link between his bodily injuries and the fatal result”. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. NGOs statement: “We, the undersigned organizations, express our utmost concern and sorrow over the passing of Lekso Lashkarava, the operator of „TV Pirveli”. We would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. …  Following the large-scale violence of July 5, which resulted in dozens of injuries to journalists and civilians and the death of the operator of “TV Pirveli” after sustaining serious injuries, all organizers, participants and perpetrators of violence, regardless of their secular or religious status should be brought to justice. The political responsibility for the severe consequences lies with the government, which has in fact refused to perform its function to protect human health and life.  Therefore, the undersigned organizations request at least: Immediate resignation of the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Vakhtang Gomelauri”.  See more source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. EPRC extends its condolences to the family and colleagues of Lekso Lashkarava, a cameraman of the channel TV Pirveli. “We call on the relevant agencies to respond immediately to this tragic fact. We demand that the investigation and expertise be conducted in a transparent and efficient manner and that all organizers, participants, and facilitators of the crime be punished”. Read more… Source: The organization’s page on the social network

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has been engaged in the case of 11 journalists affected on July 5, 2021. An investigation into facts of violence committed against media representatives and obstruction of their journalistic activities has already been launched. At this stage the status of victim is granted to 2 journalists. The organization will continue to work on cases of affected journalists and provide public with up-to-date information on the progress of the investigation periodically. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Media Checker publishes a list of journalists who were attacked by violent groups at a rally held against the “Pride March” planned to take place on July 5 in Tbilisi. “According to our information, about 40 journalists and cameramen are injured. Some of them are transferred to a hospital with severe injuries. The equipment of televisions and online publications is damaged”. Read more… Source: www.mediachecker.ge

Tbilisi. The Public Defender of Georgia considers the ongoing violent events on Rustaveli Avenue and near the office of the Shame Movement extremely disturbing. „By shifting responsibility onto the peaceful demonstrators, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili further exacerbated the already tense situation, after he described the March of Dignity as a cause for civil confrontation and said that "revanchist and radical" political forces were behind the Pride. The Public Defender once again reminds senior officials that the protection of freedom of peaceful expression and assembly, including by responding to counter-demonstrators' violent actions, is a constitutional obligation of the State and calls on the law enforcement agencies to use legal mechanisms to remove alleged offenders from public spaces“. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The European Court of Human Rights has started substantive review of complaints filed by the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and EHRAC on behalf of journalists and demonstrators affected on June 20-21, 2019. “In particular, the court addressed the Government of Georgia, as the respondent state, with relevant questions regarding cases of Bagashvili and others v. Georgia as well as Kurdovanidze and others v. Georgia. Besides asking questions about violation of rights, the European Court satisfied a request of lawyers of GYLA and ordered the Government of Georgia to submit materials of the criminal case carried out by the Prosecutor’s Office in connection with dispersal of the June 20-21, 2019 rally”, - is stated on the website of GYLA. Read more… Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC), based on the appeal of the Public Defender's Office, examined the programme aired by Alt Info Ltd and found that the programme seriously harmed both juvenile and adult viewers. According to the decision of the Commission, administrative responsibility was imposed on Alt Info Ltd for violating the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting. Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender releases the statement on violence against the Mtavari TV’s journalists. “According to the reports spread on May 4, 2021, during the preparation of a TV story on the territory of the Davit-Gareji monastery complex, journalists of the Mtavari TV company were abused by the clergy and other persons. According to the journalists, their equipment was also damaged. The Public Defender’s Office condemns all forms of violence against representative of the media and emphasizes the vital role of a free and critical media environment for a democratic society, as well as its special role in promoting the respect for the rule of law and human rights in the country". Read more… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) publishes a report: “Propaganda narratives on Facebook during the 2020 parliamentary elections”... “The report contains a review of an activity revealed on the basis of a study of Facebook sites spreading propaganda narratives on issues related to values and outlines both quantitative and qualitative findings. The report also includes a review of coordination of sites with election subjects, as well as an analysis of messages of sites disseminating propaganda narratives in line with political discourse and electoral processes”. Read more… Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. Visit the link to get familiarized with the Final Report on Social Media Monitoring for the 2020 Parliamentary Elections prepared by the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED). “The report contains an analysis of main trends that took place in the social media space in Georgia from September 1 through November 21, 2020. In particular, it provides description of activities of official sites of political parties and candidates, registered in the elections, those of official sites of local self-government bodies, as well as results of observation on unofficial, anonymous sites, operating with political purposes, and other important trends aimed at influencing the will of voters in one way or another. Read more... Source: www.isfed.ge

Tbilisi. According to information released by “Rights Georgia”, almost four years after the start of the investigation, a petition submitted by Archil Chopikashvili, a lawyer of the organization, has been satisfied and Afghan Mukhtarli, an Azerbaijani journalist, who was abducted by unidentified people in May 2017 in Tbilisi and handed over to the Government of Azerbaijan, has been granted the status of victim. Besides, the qualification of the case has been specified. Read more… Source: www.rights.ge