The Georgian Dream party is suing TV Pirveli and Formula in the Communications Commission due to the use of terms such as "illegitimate government, Ivanishvili's regime, so-called commission, Russification, clan court, regime prisoners" in news broadcasts and social media.
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"It is unacceptable for a broadcaster to cover current issues of public policy in news and socio-political programs based on the broadcaster's personal attitude or opinion and to express a position against any political party," states the complaint, signed by Natia Bokuchava, an authorized representative of the party chairman, Irakli Kobakhidze. Georgian Dream demands that TV Pirveli and Formula be found in violation of legal requirements and subsequently sanctioned.
As a sanction, the commission may issue a warning to broadcasters, order them to correct the content, demand that they no longer use similar terms, fine them, suspend, or revoke their broadcasting authorization.
"It seems that the Georgian Dream is most concerned about the issue of legitimacy. That is why they are asking the Communications Commission to sanction all phrases and designations that indicate the illegitimacy of Georgia's de facto government and related important terms.
Georgian Dream wants us to be silent. Their desire is for us not to say, for example, regime prisoners. They want to forbid us from saying that this is the regime's court. That is, to be silent and not tell you who the court obeys. They want us not to call Shalva Papuashvili an illegitimate chairman;
They want us not to call Tsulukiani or Sozar Subari an oligarch's deputy," said Nino Zhizhilashvili, a presenter for Formula.
"Obviously, this is just the beginning... This is censorship aimed at the final destruction of media that is already in a financially difficult situation. The regime wants to impose censorship on us. Ivanishvili has launched the final stage of media closure," said TV presenter Vakho Sanaia.
"Georgian Dream demands that journalists not use the term - ‘clan court’. What does the Georgian Dream party have to do with the court? Georgian Dream is a party, the court is an independent institution. Even in this one complaint, they let slip that they are one group that has seized power in this country. We will defend our rights and manage to bring to the public the news that irritates the regime the most," said Nodar Meladze, head of TV Pirveli's news service.
"This is censorship, this is interference in editorial independence, this is trampling on the principles of self-regulation. The goal is to harm Georgian society so that it can never again receive information," this is how journalist Zviad Koridze evaluates the amendments to the Law of Georgia On Broadcasting, which, from June 1, 2025, after filing a complaint, allow the Communications Commission to sanction broadcasters for issues that were previously within the scope of self-regulation. These issues include: proper accuracy of facts and the right to reply; fairness and impartiality; news and socio-political programs; programmatic restrictions; complaints and pre-election debates. Under the old version of the law, the Communications Commission could only sanction broadcasters in disputes related to these issues if they refused to consider the complaint. With the same legislative changes, broadcasters were prohibited from receiving grants and any financial support from donor organizations.
The Communications Commission is headed by Kakha Bekauri, the former director of the Ninth Channel, a television station owned by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chairman of Georgian Dream.
