ComCom Fines TV Pirveli GEL 5,000 for Violating Impartiality Principles

The Communications Commission has fined TV Pirveli GEL 5,000 for violating the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting. Specifically, as a result of ComCom’s monitoring, which covered the period from 27 July through 28 July of this year, it was established that the broadcaster’s 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, and 20:00 news programmes contained instances of reporting news based on the broadcaster’s personal attitudes/opinions and of failing to present facts with due accuracy, in violation of the requirements established by law. 

Under the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting, broadcasters are required to provide news and fact-based information with due accuracy and impartiality and must take all reasonable measures to prevent the dissemination of false or misleading information. The legislation prohibits broadcasters from covering, in news and political programmes, information reflecting political or other forms of confrontation, as well as current public policy issues, based on the broadcaster’s personal attitudes or opinions. 

TV Pirveli had already received two sanctions for similar violations during the past year, including a written warning and a GEL 2,500 fine. For a repeated violation of this nature, the legislation provides for a fine of up to 1% of the broadcaster’s annual revenue. At the same time, the Commission exercised its discretionary authority and imposed the minimum sanction provided by law (GEL 5,000) on TV Pirveli for the violation.