Georgian PM pledges basic right to media freedom will be protected for each journalist

Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday lashed out at the British government's decision to impose sanctions on two Georgian television stations, Imedi TV and POSTV, describing the move as a reflection of a “tragic state” within European and British bureaucracy.

Speaking to reporters, the head of government argued that the United Kingdom - traditionally viewed as the birthplace of human rights - has abandoned its respect for media freedom and fundamental liberties.

“Nothing is valued anymore in Great Britain, which was once rightly considered the homeland of human rights. Today, neither media freedom nor basic human rights are worth anything in that country. This is how far European and British bureaucracy has fallen. It is a very sad and tragic development”, the PM said.

He emphasised that the sanctions would have no practical effect on the operations of the broadcasters. He drew a sharp parallel to 2007, recalling when the previous government suppressed Imedi TV, but stressed that the current administration serves as the ultimate guarantor of media rights.

“I remember that in 2007, a lot of people were happy, the United National Movement was happy, when the basic right to freedom of the media was violated for Imedi [TV], there were a lot of agitated people then. Today, the same people are agitated, however, if the violation of the rights of Imedi was effective then, in this case, this is an absolutely futile attempt to restrict the basic right to freedom of the media for Imedi. On paper, this is, of course, a violation of the basic right to freedom of the media, but in practice it will have no effect. In this country, naturally, the state, the authorities, and the government are responsible for protecting basic human rights, including the protection of the basic right to freedom of the media”, Kobakhidze noted.

“Until 2012, basic human rights were violated in this country, including the basic right to freedom of the media, a complete monopoly was established, and in 2012, it was our government that ensured the basic right to freedom of the media, and, of course, we are responsible for ensuring that no one is violated by this basic right”, he concluded.