The signatory organizations welcome the decision of the President of Georgia to veto the amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, which among others foresees the possibility to conduct the public procurement in non-transparent way, increasing the time for placing the commercial advertisements or sponsorship. The presented law significantly increases the risks of non-transparency and the corruption at Georgian Public Service broadcaster. Furthermore, the law will damage the private broadcasters and the Georgian media environment in general.

Accordingly, the signatory organizations call on the Parliament not to override the presidential veto and take  into account the justified arguments provided by the president, members of the parliamentary committee on Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee, the private media and civil society in order to ensure that the amendments to the law will be formulated in  way that will not harm the media environment and will be in line with the role and function of the idea of the public service broadcaster.

Transparency International Georgia

Georgian Democracy Initiative

Open Society Georgia Foundation

Georgian Young Lawyers Association

Sapari

Liberal Academy Tbilisi

The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics

International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy

Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)

The Economic Policy Research Center

Article 42 of the Constitution

Human Rights Center

Media Institute

Georgia’s Reforms Associates

CIDA

Atinati

We for Sensible Future

Community Union “Nukriani”

Bridge of Friendship Kartlosi

Bolnisi Language House

Tkibuli District Development Fund

Akhaltsikhe Youth Center

Georgian Union of Democratic Development

Union of Democrat Meskhs

For Better Future

Civic Initiatives Association

Dusheti Development Foundation

Ratcha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Self Government Resource Center

The Center for Civic Monitoring and Research

Anti-Violence Network of Georgia - Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Committee

Georgian Association of Educational Initiatives

Regional Development Center

Inter-Ethnic Unity of Kvemo Kartli

Association “Spectrum”

Georgia Rural Council

Samtskhe Javakheti Media Center

Women for Regional Development