12:49, 27 June 2008

CPJ claims lack of independent TV news in Georgia

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has disseminated a statement related to the stop of information broadcasting by the "Mze" Independent TV Channel.

On June 26, David Bezhuashvili, one of "Mze" founders, declared that from that day on the news channel was reorganized into an entertaining one.

"We're firmly convinced that with the stop of the news broadcasting carried out by the 'Mze', the Georgian TV audience will be left without any information regarded as an alternative to the governmental viewpoint," - Nina Ognyanova, coordinator of the CPJ Programme for Europe and Central Asia, has stated. "The Georgian authorities should demonstrate their commitment to the freedom of press and democracy, by admitting criticism in mass media and encouraging the existence of multiple sources of news information."