Giorgi Gvimradze, Director of News and Current Affairs Bloc of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) said that the statement made by MP Davit Chichinadze may be a dangerous signal for GPB regarding its editorial independence.

“I believe that it is alarming when a member of parliament makes a statement about reconsideration of independence issue of Public Broadcaster on a legislative level,” Gvimradze stated.

Chichinadze talked about financing and independence of Public Broadcaster at an expanded parliamentary committees sitting, which was considering the 2019 state budget.

He said that 58 million GEL to be allocated to GPB in 2019 was much money. Chichinadze also mentioned that GPB was planned to take a loan in the amount of 45 million with the 5-year term.

Nodar Chichinadze, Director of Finances and Administration Bloc of GPB described MP’s statement as a lie. He underlined that the budget of GPB was attached to the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and when GDP was growing, GPB budget was increasing, correspondingly.

Chichinadze explained that the loan was necessary for GPB to ensure the full refurbishment of the technical base.