We need to adopt a mechanism that ensures a balance between human rights and freedom of expression - just as people in Great Britain have the opportunity to protect their rights, Georgians are no less than anyone else and we must have the same levers and mechanisms for self-defense, - Archil Gorduladze, a Georgian Dream MP and Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee, thus explained the planned changes relating to television and radio broadcasters.

The draft amendments to the Law on Broadcasting were considered and supported by the Parliament's Sectoral Economy Committee at its first hearing today.

Georgian Dream MPs believe that the country is moving closer to European standards for human rights protection with the legislative initiative related to broadcasters, and the goal of the law is prevention and adequate response to violations by broadcasters.

Gordiladze noted several times during the presentation of the bill that self-regulation of broadcasters is not working, therefore, under the new law, an interested person will have the opportunity to apply to the Communications Regulatory Commission in addition to the self-regulation body.

“When broadcasting news, the broadcaster will be obliged to adhere to the principle of fairness and impartiality.

Fact and opinion must be strictly separated. It will be inadmissible for a member of any political party or a political official to be the news anchor.

Neutrality must be maintained in the news program.

At the same time, it will be inadmissible for the broadcaster to disseminate personal attitudes or opinions in the news. The public must receive proper information and make its own assessment, not the broadcaster,” Gorduladze said when presenting the bill.