Georgia’s road towards fully-fledged democracy has not been a straightforward one. There have been potholes on the road to progress, but this is perfectly normal in a country trying to wiggle itself out of a conflict with Russia, a regional political behemoth.
Georgians have always stood up for their freedom, and the proliferation of free media in the country and embrace of democratic values have shown as much.
You may argue that the new media environment in the country has been essential to protecting civil values and the establishment of the supremacy of the law. There have been challenges to these inherently democratic values, but progress continues as the country’s civil society stands for its values.
The question everyone has been asking since the beginning of this year is if Georgia will be able to weather the current storm, and what role will the new private broadcasters play during this period of turmoil? It’s impossible to discuss the current events without mentioning the history of Georgia’s path to the West. On this topic former Georgian politician, David Kezerashvili, was last year interviewed by Econotimes to give his comments on Georgia’s path to the west. The interview came as a response to recent political events in the country and his opinion on whether we are witnessing the beginning of a new democratic crisis in Georgia.
Is this the beginning of a democratic crisis?
The European Union has always shown great interest in Georgia. The country, even though not too close to Europe geographically, has always been considered an important part of the European family.
So much that European leaders have shown support and solidarity with the country in its time of need and have justifiably offered criticism in matters, they disagreed with and believed set the country back.
One such issue was the arrest of oppositionist leader Nika Melia back in February 2021, prompting a new wave of cautious criticism of what is currently going on in Georgia. The European Union has been reluctant to call the arrest a “crisis of democracy,” and nor has Georgia shown totalitarian tendencies.
However, there has been some concern over the last parliamentary election, which concluded in October 2020. Melia’s party called the election rigged, arguing that the government had used intimidation tactics to scare voters from casting a ballot.
It’s in this context, both Georgian and European politicians are trying to make out the situation and read its origins and implications better.
While the arrest of Melia was abrupt and somewhat dramatic, Georgia is given a chance to sort out its political problems first before foreign observers weigh in more firmly to guarantee that the rule of law is observed.
What’s The Role Of Private Media in Georgia Today?
One reason why European observers can act with confidence and firmness today is thanks to the role free media has played in the country in recent years. Since the Rustavi 2 TV channel was closed in 2019, the government has been more reluctant to act against the media openly. This has brought independent and trusted media to the fore, including Matvari TV and TV Formula. In their present quality, the media offer accurate and factual reports of events that allow them to contribute to democratic values in the country.
Formula TV is now one of Georgia’s most influential new television stations and has significant clout in Georgian media as they openly address what journalists perceive as government shortcomings, while also serving as an important bridge between Georgian political realities and Western observers. By now, the station has a reputation of taking a pro-active stance towards helping Georgia become a more transparent country based on international standards ranking freedom of speech worldwide.
Free media in Georgia plays an important role in the country reporting on events objectively and based on facts, encouraging other broadcasters and journalists to do the same.
“I will argue that if it weren’t for Formula TV today, Georgians would have had to rely more on international media to learn about what was going on in their country. That is not to say that the government has actively sought to restrict freedom of expression, but history speaks for itself.” David Kezerashvili
Indeed, Formula TV is an example of the new media landscape in Georgia, and certainly, the events surrounding Nika Melia raise a few red flags that observers should be careful about. As the owner of Formula TV, David Kezerashvili is far from objective in his assessment of the role of his own broadcasting, but the main takeaway from our conversation with him is that he remains confident that Georgia can work through the political issues without jeopardizing free speech or prosecuting the opposition.
With that said, Georgian lawmakers should show unambiguously that they want to uphold values and standards of freedom that allow everyone to speak freely and challenge the status quo.
That is precisely what European observers are going to look for next.
