Radio Liberty Broadcast Restricted in Adjara Run-up to Adjara Supreme Council Elections

Gela Mtivlishvili, Batumi

Radio Liberty has not been broadcasting in Adjara for the 4th week now. The Adjara TV-Radio Department states that the Radio Liberty programs have not been broadcasted for the radio does not have a subsequent contract. Tea Tsetskhladze, the director of Adjara TV-Radio Department and the former head of Levan Varshalomidze’s Press Department (Levan Varshalomidze is the head of Adjara Autonomos Republic government) states that the Radio Liberty’s programs will be broadcasted via the Adjara Radio if only the Radio Liberty Tbilisi Bureau accepts the terms of Adjara TV-Radio Department.

Marina Vashakmadze, the director of Radio Liberty Tbilisi Bureau confirmed the fact that based on the decision of Adjara TV-Radio Department the Radio Liberty ceased broadcasting in the Region of Adjara. “We are holding negotiations with the Department as of this time. We can not say for sure now whether the Radio Liberty renews broadcasting in Adjara or not,” stated Marina Vashakmadze.

Tea Tsetskhladze, the director of Adjara TV-Radio Department: “The contract between the Radion Liberty and Adjara TV-Radio Department was signed several years ago, and this was before I had been appointed the head of the Department. Nobody contacted us from the Radio Liberty for the last two years. They only were in touch with us when the broadcasting was ceased. However, we could not find any contract with Radio Liberty in our files.

-In what case will the Adjara TV-Radio Department renew the broadcasting of Radio Freedom’s programs?

-It will happen when the both sides agree to the acceptable terms of broadcasting. We used to cease the broadcasting of Adjara Radio Morning Program live air in order to issue the morning edition of Radio Freedom.

-What do you mean in the acceptable terms of broadcasting?

-The administration of Radio Freedom Tbilisi Bureau offers us to continue cooperation based on our good will, involving no commercial interests as it used to be before. The Radio Liberty has never paid us money for broadcasting and we haven’t talked about it this time too. I think we used to incur losses when we used to substitute the broadcasting of Radio Adjara morning program for Radio Liberty’s morning programs. We offered the administration to broadcast their programs other time. However, they rejected our offer. The time the Radio Liberty requires is very important for us too.”

Ucha Nanuashvili, executive director of the NGO Human Rights Center considers that the censure of Radio Liberty’s broadcasting in Adjara has some connection with the restriction over the freedom of speech in Georgia. “Already the majority of private media sources are controlled by the government. The most difficult situation in this regard is in Georgian regions. It is unacceptable for the government to have the media sources like Radio Liberty with objective, balanced and unbiased information, and especially Adjara in the run-up the oncoming elections of Adjara Supreme Council, “stated Ucha Nanuashvili.

Murman Dumbadze, the MP of Adjara Autonomous Republic Supreme Council evaluates the fact of terminating Radio Liberty’s broadcasting in Adjara and considers that it was pressure the freedom of speech. “All central and regional TV companies excluding TV-25 covering only several districts of Adjara are already under governmental control.  However, several newspapers remain independent. The problem is that many people do not have enough money to buy the papers. 

It is known that Vano Merabishvili, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia checks emails correspondences of people.  I know that from my personal experience. Now the Radio Liberty is being restricted, it can not be listened to in Adjara any more. The Radio Mtsvane Talgha” will be limited as well. The closer the elections of Adjara Supreme Council to be held in October 2008 the more restricted will be the free regional media. I think TV-25 will be shut down. At least for the pre-election period as it is the regional TV-company with journalists tell the truth,”told Dumbadze.