The First Vice-Speaker, Tamar Chugoshvili takes part in the 16th South Caucasia Media Conference on Strengthening Media Freedom in the Region being organized by the OSCE Representative Office on Freedom of Media.

The Conference aims at discussion of the changes in digital media region-wide and the developments in terms of freedom of media. The conference is attended by the media professionals, representatives of authorities and civil society, international experts and journalists.

The Conference was open by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media, Harlem Désir: “All countries in the region encounter the new political challenges and changes. Progress in democracy and enhancement of the rule of law requires media to play its role and be free. I do hope that the reforms upheld for protection of freedom of media and especially in Georgia will be further protected and Georgia will serve a model”.

The First Vice-Speaker, Tamar Chugoshvili addressed the attendees: “This is the 16th time that this Conference is being held for South Caucasus region and hence, we – all the neighbors in the region – Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan – enjoy the opportunity to discuss media processes in the country”.

She stressed the media environment which was extremely controllable and restricted, touched upon the quality of national broadcaster, violent acts against the private companies and their holders, including by means of special police forces, violence against journalists etc. and underlined the changes introduced to the respective laws.

“As representing the Parliament, I mostly spoke about the changes introduced to the Constitution and the legislation envisaging the internet, which is one of the main information sources, to be the right guaranteed under the Constitution. I dwelt on the Public Broadcaster recently acquiring the Constitutional protection guarantees, and other legislative changes to ensure high standard of freedom of media. I, being the Member of Parliament, speak about the legislative environment first of all and believe that we hold the Constitutional and Legislative Guarantees to ensure Healthy Broadcasting Media Environment in Georgia”, - she noted.

The challenges remain, she stated, in regards with unethical, false, unverified and unbalanced information and low media literacy level, “though Georgia does serve as a model in the region”.

The 2-day Conference held in Tbilisi also covers the news distribution in digital era, safety of journalists during the political changes, legal regulations for freedom and pluralism of media etc.