Media Development Foundation, MDF is concerned by the fact of releasing and covering in media on January 14 of video materials concerning criminal case charges (article 332, part 3) brought against former headship of the Police Department of the Ministry of Defense.

Media Development Foundation, MDF states that: firstly, Georgian Prosecutor’s Office violated personal privacy of those recorded in the video materials. General Administrative Code obligates public institution not to expose to public discussion any information of personal character without obtaining consent of this person or without appropriate court decision. It should be noted that the above mentioned materials had been obtained illegally. Still more alarming is the fact that the materials spread by the Prosecutor’s Office among media means give the opportunity of identify recorded persons.

On the other hand, we observe lack of public accountability of media and the violation of Code of Conduct for Broadcasting. Namely, the article 35 (10) of the Code of Conduct for Broadcasting states clearly: "Broadcasters should ensure that the use of material originally intended for one purpose and then used in a program for another purpose or used in a different program, does not infringe the privacy. This applies both to material obtained from other sources and the broadcaster’s own material.”

It is obvious that media means have not taken enough measures to avoid the fact of infringement of privacy of the persons being identified in the video materials spread by the Prosecutor’s Office. 

Media Development Foundation, MDF calls for the Prosecutor’s Office to prevent spreading of illegally obtained materials and respect the law, as well as media means - to comply with the provisions of the Code of Conduct and protect such a fundamental right as the right of personal privacy.


Media Development Foundation, MDF

January 15, 2013.