Caucasus Open Space (COS) issued public statement in response to the protest in front of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB). See unchanged:
“Emergency Statement Regarding Developments in Front of the Georgian Public Broadcaster:
According to Georgian legislation, the Georgian Public Broadcaster was established to serve Georgia, its population, and constitutional principles – human rights, justice, the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration, and the most pressing needs that are most important to the population.
Over the past few days, as shown by numerous footages aired through media, special law enforcement services are perpetrating violence against peaceful protest participants. We, the citizens of Georgia, are protesting the violation of Article 78 of Georgia’s Constitution, and the numerous severe violations that have stripped hundreds of thousands of citizens of their electoral rights.
Today, the Georgian Public Broadcaster, funded by our taxes, with a budget of millions of lari, is not serving the Georgian people, is not covering the brutality and violence that is happening today in the streets of Tbilisi.
The Public Broadcaster is established by law for the people, funded by people’s taxes, and it must reflect the will of the people.
Therefore, we demand, today and now: The Public Broadcaster’s live broadcast must switch to emergency operation mode and dedicate its live airtime entirely to free citizens and the most important events taking place in the country – coverage of the protest actions.”
