Prepared by Messenger Staff
Formula TV Fined Over Broadcasting Law Violation
Georgia's Communications Commission has fined Formula TV 5,000 GEL for violating the Broadcasting Law, accusing the channel of failing to maintain impartiality in its news coverage.
The regulator said the decision followed monitoring carried out between June 15 and June 17, which identified cases where journalists and presenters expressed personal opinions while discussing political and public issues.
"The violations identified by the Commission included assessments made by journalists and presenters in news programs, which represented coverage of current political and public issues based on the personal attitude of the broadcaster," the commission said.
Under the Broadcasting Law, news and socio-political programs must not present political or other controversial topics through the personal views of broadcasters or journalists.
The commission noted that Formula had already received two penalties over similar violations in the past year, including a written warning and a 2,500 GEL fine.
"Given that TV Company Formula has already received two sanctions for a similar violation over the past year, this time the Commission used its discretionary authority and imposed the minimum fine provided for by law," the regulator said.
The Communications Commission added that the fine could have reached up to 1% of the broadcaster's annual income, but it decided to apply the lowest penalty available under the law.
MIA Denies Allegations of Forced Confession in Dusheti Stabbing Case
Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs has rejected allegations that police used violence and threats to force an innocent man to confess to a stabbing in Dusheti.
The ministry was responding to claims made in a TV Pirveli program promo, which alleged officers beat a 25-year-old man and threatened to plant drugs on him before the actual suspect later confessed.
According to the MIA, the first man confessed after being detained near the crime scene with a knife, while a second man admitted to the stabbing the following day and directed investigators to the weapon.
The ministry said expert examinations completed in July linked the second suspect to the crime, leading to his arrest. It added that the first detainee was never subjected to violence or coercion, voluntarily confessed, and later reached a plea agreement after criminal proceedings were launched against him for providing false information.
