WiPC 2009 Resolution: Georgia

The Assembly of Delegates of International PEN, meeting at its 75th Congress in Linz, Austria, 19-25 October 2009:

Concerned that today the mass media in Georgia is under strict censorship, especially the electronic media, and in spite of the public demand for a reduction of government control of publicly financed television;

Brings to attention the situation of the independent television station "Imedi" that, on 7 November 2007, was raided by police who damaged equipment, physically assaulted journalists, and forcibly handed control of the channel to businessmen loyal to the government;

Also refers to the denial of access to satellite broadcast to the independent television channel "Maestro", limiting even further its already restricted broadcast capacity;

Points out that government controlled broadcasting organisations are led by companies that are themselves part of the government administration, and thus information that is broadcast by them are far from independent;

Refers with alarm to incidents during April to June 2009 when officers of the Ministry of Interior officers set upon peaceful protestors, severely beating them and assaulting journalists who attempted to cover the events, seizing their recording equipment;

Fears that freedom of speech and the independent media in Georgia is under severe threat from the government;

Therefore calls on the Georgian government to abide by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which it acceded in 1994, and which specifically guarantees the right to freedom of expression and association by:

Ending attacks and intimidation against journalists
Relieving control of public service broadcasters
Ensuring a truly independent and impartial media in Georgia.