MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Violations of media freedom and safety of journalists in Georgia

7.6.2022 - (2022/2702(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Markéta Gregorová, Viola Von Cramon‑Taubadel, Gwendoline Delbos‑Corfield, Rasmus Andresen, Francisco Guerreiro, Hannah Neumann, Tineke Strik, Ignazio Corrao, Bronis Ropė
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0300/2022

B9‑0300/2022

European Parliament resolution on Violations of media freedom and safety of journalists in Georgia

(2022/2702(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia;

– having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part, which fully entered into force on 1 July 2016;

–  having regard to Reporters Without Borders’ 2021 World Press Freedom Index,

–  having regard to the statement of Georgian Non-Governmental Organisations Regarding the Arrest of Nika Gvaramia of 16 May 2022,

–  having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure;

1. whereas media freedom in Georgia has deteriorated over the past years, including the safety of journalists; whereas the Georgian media landscape is diverse but also polarised and characterised by sensationalism; whereas the public’s trust in media is very low in Georgia;
2. whereas there is a general pattern of persecution, intimidation, and physical attacks against the representatives of critical media in Georgia, and instances of interference in their professional activities have increased significantly; whereas such cases are not always investigated effectively;
3. whereas radical groups physically assaulted more than 50 media representatives and peaceful demonstrators on 5 July 2021, forcing the cancellation of the Tbilisi Pride March; whereas Aleksandre Lashkarava, a cameraman for TV Pirveli, died soon after this assault; whereas the government’s response to this violence was inadequate; whereas discrimination against LGBTIQ+ persons is still widespread;

 

4. whereas in 2020, a number of journalists were dismissed from their jobs due to their critical views and independence; whereas in early 2022, non-Georgian journalists experienced harassment and government interference at the border when coming to Georgia from Russia, and representatives from Mediazona and Dozhd were not allowed to enter Georgia;
5. whereas there is a growing number of defamation lawsuits against broadcasters and media representatives, often filed by government officials, police officers, and individuals otherwise associated with the ruling party, which points to an attempt to restrict freedom of the critical media; whereas activists and journalists were also targeted in the alleged records of mass surveillance;
6. whereas on 16 May 2022, Nikoloz Gvaramia, the executive director of the largest opposition TV channel, was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison in a criminal case brought against him by the Prosecutor’s Office; whereas the Ombudsperson of Georgia and international watchdogs, such as Transparency International and Reporters Without Borders have raised concerns about the political motivations behind the conviction;
7. whereas anti-EU propaganda and disinformation have significantly increased recently in Georgian media and social networks; whereas members of the ruling party continue using polarising and hostile language when referring to the European institutions and their representatives; whereas in 2019, Facebook removed hundreds of fake political pages and dozens of accounts that Facebook claimed  to have been linked the Georgian Dream-led government;
8. whereas the reform of the Law on Electronic Communications gives the Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC) rights to themselves appoint special managers at the telecommunications companies who will enforce GNCC decisions, including appointing and dismissing the company’s director, members of the supervisory boards and regular employees, suspend or restricting the company’s right to distribute profits, dividends, bonuses or make changes to salaries, file a lawsuit  in courts against the contracts or deals made a year before their appointment and demand their annulment;

 

1. Condemns the increased restrictions to media freedom in Georgia; recalls that the freedom of media and the safety of journalists are key pillars of a free and democratic society, firmly based on the rule of law; stresses that all media must be able to work free from any pressure and interference, in line with international standards;
2. Expresses grave concern over the deterioration of the media environment, notably media freedom, as well as government´s interferences undermining the freedom of expression through censorship, searches, intimidation and control; expresses serious concerns over reform of the Law on Electronic Communications  that, as noted by the Venice Commission, undermines right of property, media freedom and the right to a fair trial;
3. Calls on Georgia to guarantee media pluralism and ensure transparency of media ownership, as well as to take action to improve media literacy and ensure the protection, safety and empowerment of journalists and other media professionals;
4. Calls on Georgian authorities to stop the politically motivated prosecution of media workers and owners; notes the call by Reporters Without Borders for a review of Nikoloz Gvaramia’s conviction; denounces the practice of organisational and staff changes that aim at changing critical editorial policy; urges Georgian authorities to respond promptly and effectively investigate allegations of illegal interference and abuse of power towards representatives of the media;
5. Calls on all representatives of Georgian state agencies and the government, as well as on politicians to stop using aggressive rhetoric and discriminatory treatment towards media representatives, condemn violent threats and actions, and advocate for a tolerant, human rights-oriented position in their public statements;
6. Calls on the Parliament of Georgia not to support legislative bills restricting the freedom of media, as well as amend the Law of Georgia on Common Courts to allow all other types of media outlets to cover court proceedings in addition to general over-the-air broadcasters;
7. Calls on the Georgian authorities to effectively investigate the 5 July 2021 incident and the death of Aleksandre Lashkarava, and to bring all organisers and perpetrators of the violence to justice, in accordance with Georgia’s laws and international commitments; condemns the continued discrimination of LGBTIQ+ persons; urges the Georgian authorities to fully implement of human rights and anti-discrimination legislation in practice;
8. Expects that the Georgian government and authorities take their obligation seriously to provide safety to those sheltering from foreign regimes, in particular from Belarus, Azerbaijan and Russia; calls on Georgian authorities to effectively investigate the alleged abduction of  Afgan Mukhtarli in May 2017;
9. Condemns any political interference on the judiciary and on media pluralism; urges Georgia’s ruling party to cease any such interference and non-transparent actions, as well as other arbitrary, selective practices; calls on Georgia to restrict the use of SLAPPs targeting human rights defenders and media representatives and thereby inhibiting their critical and independent work;
10. Calls on the Georgian government and authorities to uphold the highest standards of judicial independence, fair trial and the rule of law, and to implement all recommendations by the Council of Europe and the OSCE, as well as obligations undertaken through the 19 April Agreement; expects the EEAS and EU Delegation on the ground to monitor all trials in Georgia related to media representatives, human rights defenders and opposition politicians or activists;
11. Calls on the European Commission and the EU Member States to provide political, technical and financial support to independent media and civil society in Georgia, including those who have thought shelter in Georgia from their governments;
12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and to the President, Government and the Parliament of Georgia.