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Public Broadcaster Response to Prime Minister

November 26, 2012

Georgian Public Broadcaster circulated an official statement in response to 22 November proposal by the Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili about possible junction of the Public Broadcaster and the 9th Channel.  23 November statement by the GPB reads that in relation with Prime Minister’s proposal there are two legal solutions – 9th Channel assets will be handed over to the GPB and the 9th Channel employees will be hired by the GPB.

By Georgian legislation, handover of material-technical assets of a private television to Public Broadcaster, in case if the value of assets does not exceed 1% of the GPB budget, is to be decided upon by Director General of the GPB.  In other cases the decision must be made by the Board of Trustees.  GPB statement also quotes Clause 4 of Article 32 of the Georgian Law on Broadcasting, according to which Director General manages and supervises activities of the public broadcaster, represents it in negotiations with third parties and he makes decision on hiring staff.

GPB statement also reads that Prime Minister’s announcement on possible creation of an alternative public broadcaster is against the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting.  “For providing diverse, free from political and commercial influence, public-interest bearing programs to the society, the given Law provides for only one public broadcaster, which, according to Georgian legislation is created based on State property for TV-radio broadcasting, acting by public funding, independent from government and accountable to the public, which is not responsible to any State body,” Article 15 of Georgian Law on Broadcasting reads.

Opinions on the future of the public broadcaster in any other aspect will be apprehended by the GPB as direct, or indirect pressure.

Gela Bochikashvili, Media.ge

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