‘Mtavari Arkhi’ Fined GEL 58,000

The regulatory commission fined ‘Mtavari Arkhi’ GEL 58,000, saying the channel has breached broadcasting codes. The commission named the clips aired on November 6-7 as the reason and said that the television station had no right to broadcast political advertisements during this period.

Mtavari Arkhi’s defence lawyer Tamta Muradashvili said: “The 'Election Code' is in force during the pre-election period. The relevant article was not found in the code and we (Mtavari Arkhi) were fined in accordance with the 'Broadcasting Law’, which envisages much lesser fines. However, they decided to fine us GEL 58,000”.

Muradashvili calls the decision biased and illegal.

"This is a demonstrative punishment of critical media for political advertisements whose content they did not like," she said.

‘Mtavari Arkhi’ will appeal the decision in court.