Action – “Solidarity to MediaPalitra!”

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By initiative of coalition for Media Advocacy, action - Solidarity to MediaPalitra was held today. Almost all newspapers and magazine covers throughout Georgia displayed: “Solidarity to MediaPalitra”.

Newspapers Rezonansi, Akhali Taoba, Versia,  Asaval-Dasavali,  magazine Liberali, magazine Reitingi, sport newspapers Olimpi, World Sport and Lelo expressed solidarity to Mediapalitra in this way.

Regional editions also participated in the solidarity action: Akhali Gazeti, Guria News, Batumelebi, Samkhretis Karibche, P.S, Adjara, P.S, Kobuleti, Chemi Kharagauli, Lanchkhuti Plus, Rustavis Ambebi, Alioni, Spektri. Kakheti Information Center also joined the action.

Editor-in-chief of newspaper Rezonansi Lasha Tughushi fears that freedom of speech is in danger. “We express our concern over the situation regarding Palitra. We express solidarity to MediaPalitra. We consider that freedom of speech in general is in danger and we stand next to our colleagues,” - Tughushi said adding that solidarity has decisive importance”.

Member of coalition for Media Advocacy Nino Zuriashvili states that they are concerned by the past 5-6 years of Media space, that’s why they will closely monitor financial audit of MediaPalitra.

Newspaper Kviris Palitra thanks colleagues for supporting Medipalitra. “Thank you for solidarity” – reads the cover of today’s Kviris Palitra.

Audit Department of Revenue Service launched unscheduled inspection simultaneously in 6 structures of MediaPalitra on 7 June.

The Revenue Service informs that it has already finished planned stock-taking in three Media Palitra organisations. “G.A.P.” Ltd; “Color” Publishing Ltd; “Poligraphic Materials” Ltd. Revenue service collaborators left notice about the planned tax audit on 7 June in 6 various companies of MediaPalitra. According to the notice, tax audit in 6 companies of Mediapalitra would start in about 10 days.

Today the newspaper Kviris Palitra published the article about Georgian Revenue Service entry to MediaPalitra. As the article reads, MediaPalitra is a business organization and it had relations with revenue service and will have in future, though society painfully perceived the fact of Revenue Service’s entry to the organization and had bad associations. The doubts were caused as the revenue service appeared in 6 entities of MediaPalitra.

“Color Ltd, “Elva Service” Ltd, GEP Ltd, network of book stores “Biblus”, “Poligraphic materials” Ltd and Palitra Ltd have different profiles, they are registered in different period of time, have independent management and bank accounts. These 6 independent entities have the same founders. Revenue Service explains that this is planned audit and not the urgent one, when they enter companies after receiving operative information. According to the official information, computer system takes decision of planned audit. The computer shows the risk-companies and then it’s upon Revenue Service management whether they will start procedures or not”, the article reads.

According to the article, society doubts that the decision was taken by computer system, causing preventive measures on 7, 8, 9 June and next days. 

“I don’t want to think the audit was linked with 26 May events”, Georgian Public Defender said.

Other members of the society also linked this fact to the events of May 26th.

“On 25-26 May, MediaPalitra worked as usual – broadcasted, showed and printed only facts. That night events might have accelerated mass inspection of MediaPalitra, though one tendency deserves attention – influence of MediaPalitra has increased recently. If it had impact on printing media, now internet portals, radio, news agencies and internet television have been added– all of them in leading positions’, the article reads.

The aforesaid Ltd entities together with other structures create financial stability of MediaPalitra, to give salaries to more than 1000 collaborators and give efficient and objective information to readers, listeners or viewers. Society had doubt that by weakening financial sustainability and by using other levers of control they tried to weaken MEdiaPalitra and influence it. That’s why the statements were released expressing their doubts and solidarity action was also held.