World Press Freedom Day:
Access to information underpins society’s democratic development, says PM

The values of freedom of expression and access to information underpin the democratic development of any modern society, says Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

Kvirikashvili issued a special statement to mark World Press Freedom Day today, on May 3.

"In Georgia we count on the media to offer balanced, insightful and, especially, truthful information to our citizens ahead of the Parliamentary Elections in October,” the PM said.

"It is the duty of journalists to inform our citizens, just as it is the duty of the Government to ensure journalists can practice their profession freely, openly and without constraints,” he added.

Kvirikashvili noted his Government took that duty "very seriously”.

He added last month, Reporters without Borders published its World Press Freedom index which ranked Georgia 64th out of 180 countries, five places up from 2015.

"However, we shall not be satisfied with these achievements,” Kvirikashvili said.

"We have to continue efforts in the areas of human rights protection, rule of law and closer European integration".”

May 3 was declared World Press Freedom Day by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression.