Parliament approves report on GNCC activities

Results of an investigation into the activities of Georgia’s National Communication Commission (GNCC) have been released to Parliament.

Members of the Temporary Investigative Commission, tasked with investigating alleged abuse of power by GNCC and other violations of the law, revealed findings of its report to Members of Parliament on March 7.

The Resolution was accepted with 79 votes in favour and none against.

Head of the Commission Tina Khidasheli spoke about the outcome of the investigation in Parliament.

The Commission reported on abuse of power by GNCC and its former chief Irakli Chikovani. Numerous other violations were also identified, including

• Violating the requirement to support development of competition and free entrepreneurship under Article 30 of the Constitution;
• Violating and ignoring consumers’ rights under the Constitution;
• Ignoring the prohibition called concentration under the law on Broadcasting;
• Selection of sub-regulated persons and discriminately applying the law;
• Improper implementation of law-imposed obligations; and
• Abusing authority

The Commission considered it was necessary to submit its findings to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office.

Khidasheli said the bigger part of the violations can be eliminated by GNCC itself. Therefore, the Commission’s address aimed to identify the issues so GNCC can address them and undertake all necessary measures to remedy the problems.

The Commission supported the "Super TV” decision on returning the illegally imposed fines.

It also urged GNCC’s current practice of monitoring the population’s use of the internet to be stopped immediately.

It was decided GNCC will reconsider the issue of withdrawing a broadcast frequency from "Obiektivi TV”, and will immediately begin proceedings in reference to breach of law by regional broadcasters – Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti TV - Samegrelo, Spektr and Tvali.

The Commission was established by the decree of Parliament on May 1, 2013.

As it was pointed out in the Commission’s interim report, a number of complaints towards GNCC were studied during the investigation. Apart from the concrete TV cases, the Commission also investigated conflict of interests of current and former GNCC chiefs.