Ombudsman, NGOs question possible impeachment of Adjara TV director
Monday, April 15
Lomjaria made a statement regarding the issue, saying she was surprised when the topic of Kapanadze’s possible impeachment raised since she had heard only positive assessment about the recent developments in the public broadcaster of Adjara, Georgia’s Western region.
“If there are some formal or procedural issues to initiate the impeachment process, this is a terrible and very dangerous signal for any person who, even in the future, decides to become the head of this television,” Lomjaria said, adding that local and international organizations assess Adjara TV as “impartial and unbiased.”
The Ombudsman said that in 2018 the Tolerance Center of the Public Defender’s Office awarded Natia Kapanadze an award of tolerance because television broadcasted and balanced well the issues of ethnic and religious minorities and promoted diversity.
Lomjaria said the two members of the board, who request Kapanadze’s impeachment, might have political motives.
A complaint requesting Kapanadze’s impeachment was filed with the board of advisors on April 10 by two board members Giga Chkhartishvili and Irakli Dartsmelidze.
The two men list 17 issues in their complaint, which, according to them, give substantial grounds for starting the impeachment procedures. Among the problems are alleged misappropriation of funds, tenders and procurements and “discriminatory and unfair remuneration system.”
A few days later, Adjara TV and Radio Company responded to the allegations, saying in the last few years the Company has demonstrated being objective and impartial and that it has established itself as a broadcaster that is free from political and commercial bias.
“The ongoing processes come into contradiction with editorial independence of Adjara TV and Radio Company, and the idea of public broadcasting,” the statement reads.
The third sector is also observing the issue. The NGOs released a statement on April 13, saying under Natia Kapanadze’s management, the Adjara TV and Radio has been evaluated by many international and local reputable organizations as a free, impartial and progressing institution, operating in an extremely polarized and politicized media environment.
“At the moment it is essential to perceive the negative impact that the director’s potential impeachment may have on country’s democratic development and media freedom record. We hope that other members of the Advisory Board will demonstrate pragmatic approach favoring TV channel’s editorial independence,” said the NGOs.