Georgia accused of censoring TV criticism

Transparency International-Georgia accused Georgian authorities on Friday of effectively banning independent television channels from using words and phrases critical of the government.

The watchdog said Georgia's Communications Commission had targeted two opposition-leaning broadcasters, Formula and TV Pirveli, through seven regulatory reports over six months. It said the state had effectively prohibited 93 words and phrases, including “regime”, “oligarch”, “political prisoners”, “prisoners of conscience” and “repressive laws”.

Transparency International-Georgia accused the regulator of censorship and of using escalating fines to financially cripple independent media. On October 1, the commission fined Formula $3,700 in what the watchdog said was the third financial penalty against the broadcaster.

The Communications Commission said broadcasters had violated laws requiring impartiality in news coverage by presenting journalists' personal opinions as factual reporting.

The dispute comes as the ruling Georgian Dream party faces accusations of democratic backsliding after mass protests over disputed 2024 parliamentary elections and the government's decision to suspend Georgia's EU accession bid. The government denies authoritarianism and says its policies protect national sovereignty.