In view of the recent Tbilisi city court ruling to dismiss the management of Rustavi2, Georgia’s independent TV channel, and the bypassing of previous ruling of the Constitutional Court, the President of the European People’s Party, Joseph Daul, made the following statement:    “Georgia’s government has once again proved the country is sliding into a path of authoritarianism. There is no democracy when the freedom of media is curtailed and TV stations are illegally taken over. An independent and pluralistic media is a fundamental European right that is indispensable in a transparent and free society. Editorial independence not only serves as the guarantor of freedom of expression, but also keeps governments accountable,” said the EPP President. “The previous ruling of the Constitutional Court must be respected. Selective justice serving the interests of the government challenges the future of Georgia and the implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU. Political competition and providing impartial information must be ensured even more before the parliamentary elections scheduled for 2016,” concluded President Daul. 


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