13:57, 5 September 2003

Court answered to claim of several media and non-government organizations

On September 3, the Tbilisi City Court answered to the claim of several media and non-government organizations to abolish the resolution passed by the Central Election Commission (CEC) on August 25, which appreciably limited the role of the mass media in the parliamentary elections coming on November 2. In particular, this document prohibited various pre-election programs in a month and a half before the elections, and it was not specified what kind of programs could be prohibited - the choice depended on tastes and favors of the CEC.

The Court abolished this resolution having found it illegal and infringing upon the interests of not only journalists but also the whole society, which has the rights to receive information about elections. By the way, Nana Devdariani, a new chair of the CEC, announced yesterday that she would certainly question the new commission on the cancellation of the resolution mentioned; but now she will not have to do it - judicial authorities do it ahead of the new chair.

Author: Tengiz Ablotiya, expert of the Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations

Source: Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations (Moscow)