Georgia’s PM Initiates Establishment of Media Ombudsman

TBILISI – Georgian Prime Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili has initiated the establishment of Media Ombudsman today, and offered cooperation to the international media rights observers, media experts, specialists and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to implement the idea.

The PM underlined that the government is determined to defend European values in the country. He said that rule of law, respect for human rights, including freedom of speech and expression, and judicial independence are the result of governmental policy and the main achievement of the Georgians.

“I offer to establish the Office of Media Ombudsman, consisting of the most reputable international media rights observers. Today, I am publicly inviting cooperation from European media experts and specialists who have proved their professionalism,” the PM stated.

Kvirikashvili noted that the Office of Media Ombudsman will continuously monitor the country's media environment and development, including the processes involving Rustavi 2 TV, the Public Broadcaster, and the media environment as a whole. “We are open to cooperation. We are invested in protecting and empowering our institutions, and we will spare no effort to ensure the development of our country in accordance with European and democratic values," the Prime Minister stated.

The PM also mentioned the Supreme Court decision in the dispute between the owners of Rustavi 2, which triggered discussions in the country. “Unfortunately, the line between the issues of ownership and media pluralism was intentionally obliterated to some extent. Therefore, the meeting with NGOs sought to discuss the perceptions prevalent today in the country, which are very different from reality,” said Kvirikashvili.

I offer to establish Office of #MediaOmbudsman which will continuously monitor #Georgia's media environment https://t.co/SKSHNMYttp

— Giorgi Kvirikashvili (@KvirikashviliGi) March 6, 2017

By Thea Morrison