News
Georgian National Communication Commission (GNCC) will
consider the complaint filed by Media Development Foundation -MDF referring to
the fact of violation of the Georgian legislation by Media Union
"Obiektivi" while airing the Russian-language films and discuss the
issue on imposition of administrative penalties.
Media Union "Obiektivi" aired Russian-Language
films - " Crimea - Way back Home" by Andrey Kondrashov on March
22, 2015 and the film of Vladimir Soloviov "the
President" on May 3, without translation or providing subtitles in the state language of Georgia, breaching the Georgian Law on Broadcasting.
Based on the complaint filed by MDF on May 19, the National
Communication Commission (GNCC) has studied the violation of Georgian
legislation as well as the issue whether Obiektiviheld license to broadcasting of above-mentioned films on the territory
of Georgia. Broadcasting Department
of the GNCC has conducted the inquiry.
The department’s conclusion states that airing the above-mentioned Russian-language
films by Media Union Obiektivi was
unlawful act violating the obligations under the N3 resolution of Georgian
National Communication Commission issued on October 30, 2009. Broadcaster neither
could present the documentation ensuring the right of airing the films on the
territory of Georgia.
According to the Article 51.1 of Georgian Law on
Broadcasting "Films produced in non-state languages shall be
broadcasted by Broadcaster’s air only voiced over on state language of
Georgia". According to the N3
resolution of Georgian National Communication Commission issued on October 30,
2009: " Feature film, as well as documentaries, TV films, series
or soap opera produced in a non-national language (Except of
Georgian and Abkhazian) shall be aired by general and specialized broadcasting
license holders, as well as Public Broadcaster only if dubbed into the
national language of Georgia - Georgian Language, in the Autonomous Republic of
Abkhazia - in Georgian and Abkhazian Languages. "
The hearing of Georgian National Communication Commission
will be held on July 16, where the address of MDF regarding the issue will be
discussed.