🚨 Freedom of speech is under threat – Trialeti’s satellite broadcasting has been halted!
Today, the satellite broadcasting of TV company Trialeti was suspended due to an artificially created crisis resulting from systematic pressure by the authorities. This is yet another step toward the destruction of Trialeti, which the revenge-driven government has already “successfully” carried out.
The Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance is exerting unlawful pressure on Trialeti. Through abuse of authority, over the past six months the Service has imposed garnishment (Incaso) on the company’s accounts three times, seized funds, then lifted and reinstated the restrictions - not solely for tax enforcement purposes, but to economically destabilize independent media.
The Constitution of Georgia guarantees equality before the law for everyone and prohibits discriminatory or selective treatment. The Revenue Service is obliged to treat persons in similar legal circumstances equally.
Media organizations affiliated with the authorities owe tens of millions of lari in tax debt, yet no strict measures are applied against them. Meanwhile, against Trialeti — whose debt is significantly smaller - the harshest form of enforcement has been applied, resulting in the paralysis of its operations.
The state refused to use the tax settlement mechanism provided by law for Trialeti, while the same authorities have concluded such agreements with more than ten thousand organizations over the years, writing off amounts exceeding 5 billion lari.
Such unequal approaches constitute selective justice and contradict the constitutionally guaranteed principle of equality. The Revenue Service has violated the principles of proportionality and good governance. This is not tax enforcement - this is political revenge.
Trialeti informs Georgian and international human rights organizations, governments, and institutions on a daily basis about the unlawful pressure by the authorities and attempts to suppress free media.
At the same time, information about these violations has been provided to the Parliament of Georgia, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, the entire government, the Georgian Dream party, and its chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili - yet there is no response.
No one is investigating whether the law was broken. No one is interested in whether human rights were violated. Everyone is silently waiting for independent media to be stifled!
Can this be called a just country?
Is this your democracy?
❗ We will not remain silent! The time will come when officials carrying out unlawful orders will be held accountable before the law.
✊ Solidarity with Trialeti – Freedom for the media!
