District Court Cancels CEC’s Controversial Ruling

(Tbilisi, September 3, 2003, Civil Georgia) – The Tbilisi District Court today cancelled the ruling adopted by the outgoing Central Election Commission (CEC) on August 25, which defines the principles of coverage of the election process by the state and private mass media.

Several non-governmental organizations and representatives of the mass media filed a lawsuit against the CEC, claiming that the ruling was violating the freedom of expression.

The CEC-adopted ruling prohibited the media from broadcasting any report!
s that include pre-election campaigning by political parties 50 days before the parliamentary elections, scheduled for November 2. TV and radio companies were also prohibited from broadcasting any news or entertainment programs with political candidates’ participation.

The outgoing Central Election Commission has the right to appeal the court decision in the Supreme Court of Georgia within a month of this decision.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian)