Tbilisi. The Media Development Foundation expresses concern about the opinions of the Prime Minister of Georgia BidzinaIvanishvili expressed in relation to media at the press-conference held on November 22. "Discussion by one of the highest officials of the authorities about what the broadcaster should do, how should it merge with the television channel owned by the premier's family, who should be employed by the channel and whether it should be funded from the premier's private pocket, especially in light of the revision of broadcaster by the Financial Police, provides grounds for concern", – the statement says. The organization calls on the civil groups to actively use the legal mechanisms of public control, so that the broadcaster's accountability towards the public is effectively secured and is independent from the political processes.

Source: mdfgeorgia.ge