The News in Brief
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Prepared by Messenger Staff
ComCom Rules in Favour of Georgian Dream, Orders Mtavari TV to Air Controversial Campaign Ad
On September 11, the Communications Commission (ComCom) upheld Georgian Dream's complaint and issued a protocol of administrative violations against Mtavari TV for refusing to air GD's political campaign advertisement.
The TV channel refused to broadcast the advertisement, claiming that the video contained "hate speech" and could violate the Broadcasting Law or the Advertising Law of Georgia.
The channel specifically pointed to two frames from the video: in one frame, CSO representatives are shown in black with the words "Say no to moral degradation" written over them in red (See Frame 1); in another frame, opposition politicians are also shown in black with blood stains over them and the words "Say no to the dark past" are written over them, again in red ink (see Frame 2).
According to ComCom, during a public meeting yesterday, the Commission listened to arguments from both sides and determined that the ad "doesn't contain hate speech or supporting violence or incitement to violence". It noted: "The video produced by the campaign unit is intended to present the pre-election vision of the political union," ComCom said, adding: "Therefore, the video presented does not violate the requirements of the legislation in force and the broadcaster was obliged to broadcast it."
Ukraine Recalls Chargé d'Affaires in Georgia Amid Efforts to Strengthen Diplomatic Engagement in War-Time
The recall of Ukraine's chargé d'affaires in Georgia, Mykhailo Kharishin, by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is connected to a number of complex reasons, including the desire to enhance the work of ambassadors.
According to Ukrainian media, this statement was made by the spokesperson for Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Georgii Tykhyi, during a briefing.
Commenting on the issue, he said that "this is not about a name or certain nuances" but rather about "complex reasons that led the new head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make such a decision."
"This decision was made in the context of strengthening the work of ambassadors, analyzing their activities, engagement, and results, as well as considering the need to align the diplomatic system with the realities of war, where results are crucial," he added.
The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also called it "inaccurate" to connect the decision to recall the chargé d'affaires to individual issues.
On September 9, it became known that Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had recalled Ukraine's chargé d'affaires in Georgia, Mykhailo Kharishin.
As the minister wrote on Facebook, the foreign ministry must respond to the realities of a country at war. He stated that the ambassadors of a country at war cannot be detached from the realities of that conflict.
ComCom Rules in Favour of Georgian Dream, Orders Mtavari TV to Air Controversial Campaign Ad
The TV channel refused to broadcast the advertisement, claiming that the video contained "hate speech" and could violate the Broadcasting Law or the Advertising Law of Georgia.
The channel specifically pointed to two frames from the video: in one frame, CSO representatives are shown in black with the words "Say no to moral degradation" written over them in red (See Frame 1); in another frame, opposition politicians are also shown in black with blood stains over them and the words "Say no to the dark past" are written over them, again in red ink (see Frame 2).
According to ComCom, during a public meeting yesterday, the Commission listened to arguments from both sides and determined that the ad "doesn't contain hate speech or supporting violence or incitement to violence". It noted: "The video produced by the campaign unit is intended to present the pre-election vision of the political union," ComCom said, adding: "Therefore, the video presented does not violate the requirements of the legislation in force and the broadcaster was obliged to broadcast it."
Ukraine Recalls Chargé d'Affaires in Georgia Amid Efforts to Strengthen Diplomatic Engagement in War-Time
According to Ukrainian media, this statement was made by the spokesperson for Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Georgii Tykhyi, during a briefing.
Commenting on the issue, he said that "this is not about a name or certain nuances" but rather about "complex reasons that led the new head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make such a decision."
"This decision was made in the context of strengthening the work of ambassadors, analyzing their activities, engagement, and results, as well as considering the need to align the diplomatic system with the realities of war, where results are crucial," he added.
The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also called it "inaccurate" to connect the decision to recall the chargé d'affaires to individual issues.
On September 9, it became known that Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had recalled Ukraine's chargé d'affaires in Georgia, Mykhailo Kharishin.
As the minister wrote on Facebook, the foreign ministry must respond to the realities of a country at war. He stated that the ambassadors of a country at war cannot be detached from the realities of that conflict.