Georgian Opposition Parties Launch Campaign in Support of Opposition TV

Text of report by private Georgian TV station Rustavi-2 on 8 July

[Presenter] Two opposition leaders have held an emergency briefing in support of the Public Broadcaster and [privately-owned] Kavkasia TV. [Labour Party member] Soso Shatberashvili said that the authorities are trying to exert influence on both television stations and are restricting freedom of speech. Shatberashvili urged the entire Georgian media to show solidarity. Eka Beselia [the general secretary of the For a United Georgia movement led by former Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili] proposed to demonstrate active support and hold protest actions. A fund-raising campaign began at the office of Okruashvili’s party to symbolize financial support for Kavkasia TV.

[Soso Shatberashvili] [Georgian President Mikheil] Saakashvili has launched a fresh comprehensive attack on the electronic media. First of all he threatened Kavkasia TV. By this Saakashvili is trying to crush the last bastion of free speech in Georgia. He forbade the contractors who are advertising on Kavkasia TV to place advertisements there.

[Eka Beselia, transmission begins mid-sentence] – who are ready to not only sympathize with free media and fight for it, but also to show their civil position and demonstrate support as a sign of solidarity with Kavkasia TV.

[Nana Lezhava, member of the For a United Georgia movement] We are launching a campaign in support of Kavkasia and we are convinced that many people who value freedom of speech will join us in this.

Originally published by Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi, in Georgian 1100 8 Jul 08.

(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Central Asia. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.