OSCE "disappointed" by Georgian Public Broadcaster board selection process

A media freedom advocate from European security organization OSCE has expressed her disappointment at the inability of the Georgian Parliament to select new board members for the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB).

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović said she was "disappointed to learn that the Parliament once again failed to complete the selection despite a competent and transparent competition held by the Public Selection Commission.”

The Parliament only managed to select four out of nine candidates after a second vote on January 23. The first vote in December failed when only three candidates were selected, leaving six vacancies.

"I call on the Georgian Parliament to make a timely decision,”Mijatović said.

"I believe the new boardshould revitalize the broadcaster and contribute to the free flow of information in the country.”

Mijatović said she was hopeful that the GPB would be an independent broadcaster, free from political and commercial influences.

Two days ago, Parliament only managed to agree on one candidate, offered by Georgian Ombudsman, and denied two others.

Successful candidate Lela Gafrindashvili was selected with 117 votes.

Controversy has continued to surround the appointment of new GPB Board members. January 23 was the second round of voting after an attempt in December failed.At the time, Parliament confirmed only three members of the board while another three were neglected, and as a result six seats were left vacant.

Two of the Board members must be named by the Ombudsman, three by the parliamentary majority, three by the parliamentary minority (one quarter of MPs) and one by the Supreme Court of the Automnomous Republic of Adjara.

Amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, upon which the GPB Board was formed, were approved by the Georgian Parliament after a three month discussion in May last year.