21:29, 17 October 2013

Georgia changes rules of journalists' work at polling stations

At its sitting on October 16, the Central Election Commission (CEC) has changed the rules of journalists' working at polling stations on the voting day. Earlier imposed restrictions for mass media have been partly abolished.

In particular, the CEC has abolished restrictions on entry and exit of journalists. Besides, they are allowed to make video and photo filming from the distance of three meters from the subject.

However, non-governmental organizations and mass media believe that the amendments are not enough for a full-fledged work of journalists.

"As a journalist, I can't accept the restriction – I can't film a ballot box. Let's suppose that a journalist has seen that a voter is casting three ballots into the box, but he won't be able to fix it, just because you can't film the ballot box. You can't say that the restrictions have been lifted in part; and now journalists can work freely – the half-lifting the restrictions doesn't still mean a free work," Irakli Managadze, the editor-in-chief of the News Agency "Expressnews" told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Author: Inna Kukudzhanova

Source: CK correspondent