Media Solidarity March underway in Tbilisi
A Media Solidarity March is underway from the Philharmonic Hall to Rustaveli Avenue.
Media representatives who have gathered near the Philharmonic Hall will move to Rustaveli Avenue. The media representatives who had gathered near the Public Broadcaster joined the protesters near the Philharmonic Hall.
As journalist Vasil Ivanov Chikovani states, freedom of speech is the guarantee of progress and democracy, and if it is threatened, everything else will be threatened.
“In my opinion, a serious question will be raised if the majority of us in Georgia do not agree on the importance of freedom of speech, the role of the media, and healthy criticism aimed at improving what has been achieved, and not regressing what has been achieved, which is actually what we already have in Georgia. We are regressing in terms of freedom of speech and journalistic activity. Everyone should know that this will affect other strategic institutions that should work for the well-being of every citizen of Georgia. Freedom of speech is the guarantor of progress and democracy, and if it is threatened, everything will be threatened,” the journalist noted.
In addition, media representatives made a statement before the march. As media representatives say, they will not stop telling the truth, exposing illegality, and criticizing.
“The one-party parliament continues to persecute the Georgian people.
The Georgian Dream party is adopting laws that not only threaten the media and civil society, but are a direct attack on democratic values.
The laws will limit the ability of Georgia’s allies and international organizations to help Georgian citizens, including independent media that provide the people with the truth.
Today, state institutions have become obedient instruments of the Georgian Dream party’s political interests. Free media remains the only space where the voice of the people is heard and where citizens can receive information about the real situation in the country. We cover corruption, violations of the law, violence…
This attempt is the latest step by the government towards establishing an authoritarian regime that is trying to eliminate any critical opinion. Instead of the European path, the ruling party is pushing the country towards the Russian model, where the media and civil society are fully controlled. We, the Georgian media, see this threat and know that this fight is crucial for the future of Georgia.
The new Russian laws aim to silence society. And when the media is silent, the people are silent too.
The media’s fight for freedom continues. We will not stop telling the truth, exposing and criticizing illegality. Silence will never replace the truth that is heard from our broadcasts and platforms,” reads the statement.
Media representatives have brought banners with various content to the scene: “You cannot suppress a free voice!”, “Freedom for the media!”, “No to censorship!”.
