Spacial Statement of GPB regarding Centrists' ad

We would like to inform, that on the basis of Election Code and Law on Broadcasting of Georgia, Georgian Public Broadcaster is obliged to allot free of charge air time for broadcasting  pre-election advertisements of qualified election subjects as well as all election subjects (political party/bloc) and distribute allocated time  equally. In addition, the Georgia’s Law on Broadcasting states that: broadcaster shall not be responsible for the content of social and electoral advertisement. The customer (the person placing the advertisement), according to the legislation in force, is responsible for the content of social and electoral advertisement.

Political Union “Centrists” (registered for 2016 parliamentary elections) applied to Georgian Public Broadcaster for allocating the free political advertising airtime and submitted its advertizing video. Public Broadcaster based on rule established by the law broadcasted the advertisement on the air of First Channel. We would like to clarify that the content of none of the political advertisement expresses the position of the broadcaster.

As the GPB is accountable to society, in accordance with the joint decision made by the management and employees, we suspend broadcasting of the advertisement of “Centrists” as Public Broadcaster believes that it contains messages against the sovereignty of the state and it may contradict the Constitution.

We address to Central Electoral Commission and the National Communications Commission with the request to consider the issue and make a decision within the competence.