On November 18, 2019, the Kutaisi Court of Appeal abrogated ruling of the Batumi City Court that the competition for the director of Adjara TV was still suspended on the basis of the lawsuit filed by Giorgi Kokhreidze. The Advisory Board will begin its selection process on November 21. According to disseminated information, Giorgi Kokhreidze also participates in the competition.
As early as September 30, 2019, part of the staff of Adjara Public Broadcaster stated that the TV station was in danger of changing its editorial policy due to the recent developments and especially the decision of the Batumi City Court to suspend the competition for the Director of the Public Broadcaster. Civil society had the expectation that the suspension of the competition served to elect a director under the new Advisory Board. This suspicion was also supported by the fact that the Batumi City Court had to find a defect in the suit of Giorgi Kokhreidze and no new competition for the position of director should have been suspended on the grounds stated in the judgment.
Media Advocacy Coalition believes that the recent developments around Adjara Public Broadcaster, including the selection of members of the advisory board by Adjara Supreme Council members and subsequent developments, suggest that the process is governed by the authorities.
However, it is critically important that the selected director should be the person whose editorial independence will be guaranteed during his tenure.
Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association
Media club
Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics
Institute for Development of Freedom of Information
Open Society Foundation Georgia
Alliance of regional Broadcasters
Liberal Academy Tbilisi
Association of Regional Media of Georgia
TV net
Small and Medium Telecom Operators’ Association of Georgia
Georgian Democracy Initiative