The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged the Georgian government to stop blocking Russian broadcasts and websites. According to the Moscow-based radio Ekho Moskvy, Russian Television International (RTVi) was cut off after it aired Ekho Moskvy’s interview with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the conflict in South Ossetia and the future of the relationship between Russia and Georgia. In the interview, Lavrov supported the Russian incursion into Georgia, and called for Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to step down.
RTVi is a New York-based independent Russian-language broadcaster that broadcasts via satellite; its programmes in Georgia are transmitted by local cable companies. The station was accessible in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, and in the cities of Poti, Batumi and Telavi.
RTVi News Service Director Georgy Tsikhiseli told CPJ that the Cable TV Union of Georgia informed an RTVi representative in London yesterday that Georgia will cease broadcasting its programmes from 1 September because of Russian aggression against the country. However, RTVi has actually been blocked in Georgia since Monday. Tsikhiseli said it was shocking news for the company because it believes it supported the Georgian authorities and condemned Russia’s decision to begin military actions in Georgia.
“They slapped us in the face, and we did not deserve it,” Tsikhiseli told CPJ. “We reported on the conflict and tried to be as objective as possible - when airing reports from Russia we did not comment on them, but rather referred to Russian actions as aggression. It is an act of censorship, nothing less than that.” Tsikhiseli said the company is calling on the Georgian authorities to intervene. CPJ tried to reach the Cable TV Union of Georgia for comment, but calls went unanswered
According to the Moscow Times, Georgian authorities have also been blocking Russian news channels Rossiya, Channel One, and NTV, as well as websites with .ru domains since 9 August. Zviad Pochkhua, editor-in-chief of the Tbilisi-based English-language newspaper The Financial, told CPJ that Russian news sites are accessible only via proxy servers, and that Russian news channels have been blocked since last week due to “biased reporting and propaganda.”
(Source: Committee to Protect Journalists)
on Aug 20th, 2008 at 15:48
I guess RTVi was too reflective of ”Old Europe” position that is not welcomed in today’s Georgia. (Two years ago the channel won an EU contract for TV broadcasting into Belarus.)
A few days ago Georgian authorities shut down EuroNews, as well. But somehow that wasn’t widely reported.
According to VoA Russian, Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs and Saakashvili’s personal pal voiced out his support for RTVi. So we can expect it back in Georgian cable networks soon.
on Aug 23rd, 2008 at 21:42
As predicted, US-based RTVi is again allowed to broadcast in Georgia. According to Russian media reports, the channel got back on the air August 22 at 3 pm local time.
Thank you, Matthew Bryza! Now, can you please plead with Mr. Saakashvili on behalf of EuroNews and other Russian-language TV/radio channels banned in today’s Georgia?
on Sep 10th, 2008 at 05:36
According to BBC Russian, a few hours ago Tbilisi unblocked access to Russian websites (.ru domain) in Georgia.
The ban lasted for exactly a month. It was ineffective since many Georgian users turned to proxi-servers that allowed them to continue visiting Russian sites.
The ban on Russian TV channels is still valid. It also applies to the Russian version of Euronews.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/russian/international/newsid_7607000/7607542.stm