The amendments are to be introduced to the Law on Broadcasting, establishing the term “media service”, which includes audio-visual medial services, radio broadcasting and audio-visual commercials.

The Draft envisages technological development tendencies and ensures equal conditions for new types of audio-visual media.

The Draft was discussed by the Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee and introduced by MP Eka Sepashvili with the II reading.

According to her, the Draft aims at the maintenance of cultural diversity, accessibility to audio-media services for persons with disabilities, protection of minors and users, provision of media pluralism and effective response to hate language, encouragement and advertisements on terrorism, as well as the prohibition of the programs and advertisements in no compliance with the applicable law due to the respective risks.

“The Draft in no way restricts the freedom of speech and expression but is directed to restrict the hate language and encouragement to terrorism in the media. The basic change introduced after the I reading is that the enforcement of certain Articles has been postponed to July 1, 2023, which implies that the Regulatory Commission shall, within this period, abstain from imposing the penalties on the media means to allow them to get adapted to the new legal requirements and ensure control of their programs to prevent the hate language and encouragement of terrorism”, - she stated.

The Draft has been sent to the European Commission in view to determine its compliance with the EU directives. The timely adoption of the Draft will facilitate further participation of Georgia in the inter-sector and media directions of the “Creative Europe” program.

The Draft is initiated by MPs Giorgi Amilakhvari, Isko Daseni, Bezhan Tsakadze, David Songulashvili, Eka Sepashvili, Gela Samkharauli, Levan Mgaloblishvili, Baia Kvitsiani, Irakli Mezurnishvili, Beka Odisharia and Ketevan Dumbadze.

The consideration was attended by the representatives of GNCC, the Charter of Journalistic Ethics and the Media Advocacy Coalition. The Committee approved the Draft and discussed the alternative Draft by Tamar Kordzaia, which was rejected.