Reporters from Adjara TV and Radio protest against newly appointed director
By Tsotne Pataraia
Thursday, December 5
Adjara TV and Radio journalists accuse new director Giorgi Kokhreidze of interfering in editorial policy. On December 4, employees of different areas of the company protested outside the building of the Broadcasting Company in Batumi. On the banners of the employees was written: "Do not interfere," "I'm a journalist, not an actor."
The journalist has also issued a statement urging the new director to stop unjustified allegations, surveillance, blackmail and assault on staff:
“The new director accused the entire editorial staff of staging performances, acting on the political agenda and bias. He told us that we are biased, he does not trust the conclusions drawn by international organizations about our work, including neither the OSCE nor recent ratings. Therefore, we ask the director to stop unreasonable allegations, surveillance, blackmail, assault on employees and discredit them,” reads the statement released by Adjara TV and Radio journalists.
Media experts and the Public Defender assessed the ongoing processes regarding the Public Broadcaster. The Public Defender went to Batumi and expressed her full support to the PB team, saying that adherence to professional standards is the core value and that anybody's fight against it is a losing battle:
“The processes regarding the Adjara Public Broadcaster are very important, affecting the whole media space and environment of Georgia, the journalists spread very alarming information. One of the goals of my visit to Batumi is to meet with the journalists in person, hear their problems and discuss, make recommendations. I would then like to meet the newly elected director and talk about the current situation,” Nino Lomjaria said.
The previous members of the Adjara TV and Radio Advisory Board of the voiced distrust to director Natia Kapanadze, she was fired on April 19, 2019. Four of the five members of the Advisory Board voted in favor of impeachment, with one voting against. The decision needed the support of three people.
Giga Chkhartishvili and Irakli Dartsmelidze are the ones who demanded Natia Kapanadze's impeachment. One is nominated by the Georgian Dream and the other by the United National Movement (former ruling party) in the Adjara TV Advisory Board. Among the reasons for their decision they mentioned that Kapanadze disrespected the board, the rating was downgraded and priorities were not met.
From then on despite several contests, the board failed to elect a new director. Giorgi Kokhreidze became Adjara TV Director on November 22. He was elected by three members of the Advisory Board, all of whom were nominated by the Georgian Dream (the ruling party) in the council.
Natia Kapanadze, the previous director was elected in 2016 and she performed her duty until the declaration of distrust. The channel has been viewed by many international organisations as unbiased.
