Control over media and restriction of freedom of expression - NGOs on the new draft law

Control over media and restriction of freedom of expression - this is the assessment of the third sector of the amendments in the Law on Electronic Communications and Broadcasting.

The NGOs consider the planned changes unconstitutional and linked to the upcoming elections. The "Young Lawyers' Association" will present its arguments to the parliament today and call on the legislators not to support the changes aimed at dictatorship.

Practically, the court allows the National Communications Commission without any control, to completely replace the internal management in the organization, be it a provider or a media outlet. Besides interference with the freedom of the media and freedom of expression, this is virtually an interference with the private property of the organizations, -Eka Kobesashvili, a lawyer of the Young Lawyers association says.

She has also underlined that there was no reason to consider the draft law in an expedited manner, and this calls into question the desire to influence the media before the elections.

The introduction of this mechanism will be a direct interference in the activities of the broadcaster or can be used to suppress the dissent and critical opinion that may be spread by this or that broadcaster not only in the pre-election period but even after the election, says Nika Simonishvili, a representative of GYLA.