National Broadcasters Boycott Coverage of Public TV’s Picketing
Two major national broadcasters – Rustavi 2 TV and Imedi TV – said they would no longer cover the opposition’s picketing of the public broadcaster’s premises “in solidarity” to the public TV.
The public broadcaster said in a statement that picketing amounted “to insult” of its employees. It also said that “pressure” exerted on the public broadcaster’s employees was not in line with “law and democratic principles” and it would cease covering the protest. “This protest will not amply to other political developments in the country,” the public broadcaster said.
Similar statements were released by Imedi and Rustavi 2 television stations. “Apart of solidarity, by doing so [boycotting coverage of picketing] we will prevent any provocation that may occur outside the public broadcaster,” the statements by Rustavi 2 and Imedi TV reads.
“We believe that any type of pressure exerted on journalists and impeding their work is no matter by whom is unacceptable,” the statement reads. “We request all the political forces to respect journalists and not to impede their professional activity.”
On May 14 few hundred opposition activists resumed picketing of the public broadcasters’ headquarters forming at the entrance a so called “corridor of shame” through which employees had to pass accompanied by opposition activists’ boos and whistles. The picketing lasted from 9am to 1pm. The similar picketing is also held on Friday.
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