"Imposing a fine on Mtavari Channel for restricting freedom of political speech is another alarming step" | European Georgia.

"Imposing a fine on Mtavari Channel for restricting freedom of political speech is another alarming step", says the statement issued by the ""European Georgia".

The party released the statement after the regulatory commission fined the Mtavari Channel by 112,000 GEL.

The imposition of a fine on the Mtavari Channel by the Communications Commission is another alarming move by the Ivanishvili regime to restrict freedom of political speech. Apart from the fact that the decision is illegal, it is obvious that the regulator was politically motivated and fined the opposition channel for inconvenient editorial policy.

The instinct of a state body to interfere with the content of TV commercials, to use censorship and restrict political speech, when Georgian laws expressly forbid it, is appalling.
The selective nature of the decision is also noteworthy. The regulatory commission has decided to impose a high financial sanction on the opposition channel while it does not fine the regime's propaganda bodies, even in cases of disregard for the law and gross violations, - says  the statement of the European Georgia.