According to local journalists, on 17 July 1996, Rustavi-2, the leading independent television station in Tbilisi, with an audience of more than one million viewers, was forced off the air by the Georgian Ministry of Communications. Authorities claimed afterwards that the commercial charter of Gamma Plus Agency Ltd., the parent company of Rustavi-2 in Tbilisi, […]
According to local journalists, on 17 July 1996, Rustavi-2, the
leading independent television station in Tbilisi, with an
audience of more than one million viewers, was forced off the air
by the Georgian Ministry of Communications. Authorities claimed
afterwards that the commercial charter of Gamma Plus Agency Ltd.,
the parent company of Rustavi-2 in Tbilisi, does not authorise it
to broadcast on a television frequency.
Gamma Plus Agency Ltd. was granted its first broadcasting licence
from the Ministry of Communications on 16 June 1994. On 12
February 1996, Gamma Plus Agency Ltd. was granted permission from
the Ministry to broadcast on VHF Channel 12 in the city of
Tbilisi for a three-year period and, starting 19 June, went on
the air with an 8-hour broadcasting cycle.
Nearly a year ago, a similar dispute arose regarding the same
licensing issue. That case was settled out of court after a
month-long legal battle in which a Tbilisi municipal judge
declared that the station had not violated telecommunications
regulations.
Independent observers are concerned that the sudden revocation of
the licence despite the 1995 court ruling is designed to pressure
independent broadcasters. Furthermore, the immediate transfer of
the rights to Channel 12 to a competing station, NPL Studio, that
was founded by figures close to the government, suggests that
there may have been political motivations involved in the
revocation of the licence. Official reports indicate that a
senior official close to President Eduard Shevardnaze may have
used the power of office to close Rustavi-2. This official was
originally involved in helping Rustavi-2 to obtain its licence
but then became a founder of its competitor station after his
business relations with Rustavi-2 broke down. Independent
observers are also concerned that the station’s coverage of
controversial political, ethnic, and organised crime stories may
have been a factor in the manoeuvring to withdraw its licence.
Rustavi-2 is one of 12 members of the Television Network of
Georgia, a confederation of independent stations that airs a
weekly national news program, and an affiliate of the Independent
Broadcasting System in the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
make public their findings
Rustavi-2 may continue its daily broadcasts unhindered until the
matter is examined through due process in a court of law
all licensing requirements, it be given every opportunity to take
action in order to comply with the law
Appeals To
His Excellency Eduard Shevardnaze
President
Tbilisi
Republic of Georgia
Fax: +99 532 99 92 00
Mr Vakhtang Abashidze
Press Secretary
Office of the President
E-mail: meta@iberiapac.ge
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
