In Georgia, authorities are preparing new restrictions for the media.

Representatives of the ruling party in Georgia, "Georgian Dream," have initiated a new bill aimed at tightening restrictions on the media. Amendments may be made to the broadcasting law.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing "Radio Liberty" and SOVA.

According to the proposed changes by Georgian lawmakers, the Communications Commission will have the authority to impose fines on television and radio stations. Previously, the rights to address such matters were not within the self-regulatory scope of this body.

Reasons for Imposing Fines on the Media

The Georgian Communications Commission aims to be granted the power to warn and fine broadcasters if they, in particular:

• fail to adhere to the principles of "fairness" and "impartiality" when reporting news (the bill does not clarify what exactly is meant by these terms),
• do not maintain balance when covering issues in the news,
• use interviews or phone conversations for broadcasting without prior notice (except in cases where it is presumed that an open recording would be impossible),
• invite only one guest to a program on a relevant topic, using it to attack an individual not participating in the program,
• the broadcaster must indicate the source of information, and in the case of anonymous sources, must clearly state this.

It is noted that until now, Georgian broadcasters were required to respond to all such violations within the framework of a self-regulatory mechanism but were not obligated to pay fines.

Currently, the broadcasting law is being amended to include prohibitions that will prevent hosts and journalists from expressing their opinions in news programs and when covering other issues of state policy.

Additionally, certain legal standards for authorial broadcasts will be revised.

"Georgian Dream" and its satellite party "Power of the People" have already initiated amendments to the broadcasting law.

Prior to this, the ruling "Georgian Dream" planned to also adopt a media law (Media Law). According to the parliamentary leader of the party, Mamuka Mdinaradze, this new regulation is based on the British model.

The law is expected to establish "standards of objectivity" for the media and journalistic ethics, and define the mechanism for monitoring and ensuring compliance with media standards.

Let us recall that last autumn, it was reported that opposition channels in Georgia were threatened with fines for refusing to air advertisements for the ruling party.

It was also reported that in February, a trial took place in Georgia regarding singer Nino Katamadze, accused of violating norms for organizing protest actions. The well-known artist received a sentence.