As is known, on June 14, a number of NGOs participating in the ‘This Concerns You’ campaign met with representatives of the Legal Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia. At the meeting, the ruling party refused to take into account important principles of the alternative legislative proposals submitted by the campaign participants to the Parliament several weeks before which imply the introduction of the regulations of the so-called ‘Must Carry’ and ‘Must Offer’ to Georgia. With this decision, the ruling party refused to create a pluralist media environment in Georgia and restricted its own population’s ability to receive diverse information.

We believe that this decision is going to have a negative effect on both media and pre-election environment and create sharply unequal conditions for all political players. As we have noted many times, in the existing media environment, the parliamentary elections are going to be significantly less democratic.

We call on the ruling team to revise their decision once more and to act in the interests of our society and State.

The ‘This Concerns You’ campaign is starting to collect signatures to turn the said legislative proposal into a legislative initiative.

We appeal to each citizen regardless of their political creed to support our initiative and to demand diverse information, which will enable us all to make an informed choice in the parliamentary elections of 2012.

For more information, contact Magda Popiashvili: Tel.: 551 75 27 07; Email: Mpopiashvili@yahoo.com  www.Esshengexeba.ge  www.Facebook.com/esshengexeba

Statement of organizations participating in the ‘This Concerns You’ campaign. pdf