The Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) considers the funding-related remarks made by some lawmakers after the GPB report’s discussion at the Georgian Parliament as misleading and meddling with the free media.

A threat of budget cuts against the GPB, which is gaining reliable, leading, and impartial media outlet reputation, is perceived as an attempt to undermine an independent institution. Public Broadcaster, as a European idea and institution, is the cornerstone of the democratic society and the state. Meantime, a robust and independent Public Broadcaster means a vigorous and prosperous democratic society. These are the core values ​​of the European Broadcasting Union, including the Georgian Public Broadcaster.

The Parliament and its members should, first of all, have a good knowledge of work, budgeting and expenditure principles of the Georgian Public Broadcaster. One of the most important amendments made in the Law on Broadcasting in 2018 was the GPB funding principle and its financial independence.

In 2019, GPB was granted an opportunity to accumulate underspent funds that is the most valuable tool for the complete infrastructural upgrade of the broadcaster. GPB is paying an approved loan of GEL 45 million, implementing the technical extension, and is actively building a new facility.

The Georgian Public Broadcaster entered the year 2021 with increased commitments. The funds were saved in 2020 to deal with these commitments. Speculations about underspending are absurd under these conditions and indicate either a deliberate attempt to discredit GPB or insufficient knowledge of the issue. We explain once again, GPB mobilized funds for investment in 2020 rather than underspent them. Since GPB funding is linked directly to the country’s GDP, this issue is especially relevant against the Covid-19 pandemic background that pushed the country’s economy into the harshest conditions.

It was evident in 2020 that the GPB 2021 budget would either reduce or remain the same. That is why the management of the Georgian Public Broadcaster decided on expenses optimization, reduced funding in some directions and saved financial resources for 2021 not to jeopardize the most significant project – the construction of a new TV centre.

The legislators defined the form of GPB funding, which does not depend on the decision of any political group, as a guarantee of its institutional independence. The stability and security of funding ensure the GPB independence and freedom from various influences, as guaranteed by the Georgian Constitution. GPB does not subordinate to any agency and is accountable to society only, which is crucial for a country on its European path. GPB expenditures are transparent and available to all Georgian citizens and interested bodies on the website 1tv.ge.

GPB calls on all international partners, the European Broadcasting Union, which deem the public media crucial as one of the fundamental tools for the democratic society development, to prevent open and perturbing pressure on the media. Public media is accountable to society, and political forces should in no way manipulate this accountability.