The Chavchavadze Center issues a statement regarding the latest attack on Rustavi 2:

Broadcasting company Rustavi 2 is one of the rare exceptions amongst Georgian Mass Media, which has an editorial policy independent from the Government.

The developments of the last few years give grounds to assume that the Government is trying to gain control of the channel’s editorial policy. This is a systemic and orchestrated effort, which involves all three branches of the Government and is evidenced by numerous statements of international observers and Media watchdogs, as well as, most importantly, by the unprecedented March 7, 2017 decision of the European Court of Human Rights, which suspended the enforcement of the decision of the Supreme Court of Georgia on the Rustavi 2 case.

Georgia is currently in the process of democratic backsliding. Informal governance remains a key challenge along with the independence of state institutions and full consolidation of power in the hands of one political force. Against this background, it is critically important for Georgian democracy to safeguard the independence of free Media and not to allow silencing of critical thought and alternative opinions.

We call upon the Government to strictly adhere to the principle of independence of media. We call on the international community and diplomatic missions accredited to Georgia to pay especially close attention to the ongoing process and to prevent direct or indirect interference in the editorial policy of Rustavi 2.