Ruling party head claims adoption of controversial broadcasting bill was “EU demand”

Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday claimed the adoption of the recent amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, which extends the power of the National Communications Commission in regulating hate speech and incitement to terrorism, had been a “demand of the European Union”. 

In his press comments, the official claimed the domestic authorities could have been expelled from Creative Europe - the European Commission's programme to support the culture and audiovisual sectors - if they failed to adopt the amendments. 

Reacting to criticism of the bill by the domestic opposition and civil organisations that said its definitions were “targeted against the freedom of expression”, Kobakhidze called the reaction a “circus”, and reiterated the adoption of the bill by the Parliament on October 19 with its third and final reading had been “not a recommendation, but a demand” from EU structures. 

It was not just a recommendation, we could have been expelled from the platform. There were also consultations on details with the representatives of the European Commission", Kobakhidze said.

The bill says it aims at creating an “effective mechanism to prevent the spread of programmes and commercials with hate speech and incitement to terrorism”. It also allows appeal of decisions on violation of the norm in programming or advertising with the Communications Commission.