Some members of the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s Board of Trustees express their deep concern over the fact that certain leaders and activists are addressing rally participants as if a struggle for the Public Broadcaster is currently taking place in the country and they are calling on them to gather on January 29 to ‘win over the GPB,’ claiming that this would be a strategic victory for gaining new elections.
We believe that such statements cannot be ignored. Given the country’s emotional climate, some may genuinely believe that a “victory” over GPB is a prerequisite for strategic success. This could lead to unforeseen actions and grave consequences.
We would also like to clarify that there is no struggle for the Georgian Public Broadcaster in our country, rather, a segment of the citizens is protesting the election results and demanding new elections, which is why they are holding rallies. The Georgian Public Broadcaster covers these events extensively and impartially, ensuring the public is informed.
This situation is being used by one part of the citizens (among whom employees of private television stations affiliated with certain political parties are particularly active) attempting to establish their dictate over the Public Broadcaster. They are increasingly insisting that, in order to call for new elections, they must gain full control over the Public Broadcaster. To this end, a severe campaign of bullying and threats is being carried out against the employees of the Public Broadcaster.
The media are being pressured daily in front of the entire society, and the basic standards of democracy are being ignored. It appears that some are forgetting that the independence of the Public Broadcaster is safeguarded by the Constitution and the law. Interference in its editorial policy is unacceptable—just as it is unacceptable for anyone to dictate who the broadcaster should invite as a guest. In addition to the television staff, there is bullying and persecution of guests who dare to express opinions that differ from those of this group
Calls for a victory over the GPB and the change of management have become more frequent, which significantly exceeds the limits of freedom of expression.
According to the law, the Board of Trustees of the Georgian Public Broadcaster is elected by Parliament, and the Board of Trustees, in turn, elects the Director General. Therefore, any calls for external interference in management or the appointment of a new Director General are entirely inconsistent with the law and, at the same time, suggest a direct threat of coercion or violence.
We believe the public should be interested in how and by what method this group intends to win over the GPB or, to put it bluntly, take over it?!. How do they plan to remove the existing Board of Trustees and Management from the broadcaster and appoint a director general of their choice?
We see only one answer to these questions: coercion! That is, the board and management should be forced to leave the broadcaster, and at the same time, the Public Broadcaster should be removed from the legal sphere. Or perhaps someone has another answer to these questions?
Regrettably, neither political parties, interest groups, nor international organizations have acknowledged this process, further fueling the aggressive campaign against the Georgian Public Broadcaster.
The idea of public broadcasting is to represent the interests of the entire society. Unlike private television stations, it does not have the right to serve as the voice of a single position or any political group.
The law obliges the Georgian Public Broadcaster to present a diversity of perspectives, reflecting the wide range of worldviews, sentiments, and opinions in society—even those that may radically differ from one another.
It is clear to the members of the Board of Trustees that, in the context of deep polarization in society, where people categorically refuse to hear differing opinions, it is often the impartiality of the Public Broadcaster that becomes the basis for dissatisfaction, sometimes developing into open aggression. However, we should not forget that this is precisely the essence and mission of public television, which society agreed upon years ago, and this agreement was formalized at the legislative level. The employees of the Public Broadcaster fulfill the obligations defined by this law, and each political group and citizen should treat this with understanding. The Public Broadcaster represents public property and the public good, and it cannot be protected at the expense of damaging the nerves and psyche of television employees.
In the city center, the media is being bullied and stoned in front of the entire public, just so that no dissenting opinions can be heard. We declare with full responsibility that both the Board of Trustees and the management will fully fulfill our legal obligations. However, it is of great concern to us that the television employees, who work conscientiously and selflessly, are under constant stress.
Considering the Georgian Public Broadcaster as an enemy, fighting it, and, especially, attempting to achieve a ‘victory’ over it seems to us to be a significant and irreparable mistake, since such a pseudo-victory would be equal to the defeat of the entire society. The Public Broadcaster belongs to every citizen, which means that it cannot adapt to the tastes or worldview of only one part of society.
We strongly urge all parties, instead of fighting the Public Broadcaster, to continue establishing their worldview in the public space and convincing the rest of society of the truth of their ideas, while leaving the Public Broadcaster the right and opportunity to present this process to the audience.
The signatories are: Tamila Dolidze, Giorgi Iakobashvili, Giorgi Kokhreidze, Vasil Maghlaperidze, Grigol Murghulia, Bondo Mdzinarashvili, Izabela Osipova, Soso Sturua.
