GEORGIA MEDIA AND PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COVERAGE: THE CASE

UNCLAS TBILISI 003147

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR EUR/CARC, EUR/PPD AND DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KPAO GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA MEDIA AND PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COVERAGE: THE CASE
OF AJARA



1. (SBU) Summary. As the election campaign heats up, Embassy
Tbilisi is reviewing the media coverage of the elections. Although
the Autonomous Republic of Ajara remains an opposition stronghold
according to polls, Ajara media is indirectly controlled by the
National Movement, and seems to be largely working for the
re-election of Saakashvili. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Broadcast media is dominated by the state-run channel,
Ajara TV, which is overtly controlled by the local authorities
through their general manager, Tea Tsetskhladze. The only commercial
TV station, Channel 25, is largely self-censoring and may soon be
shut down for non-payment of back taxes which the station leadership
claims is not owed. The one independent radio station remains off
the air for technical reasons. The regional print media is confined
to two weekly papers, one of which, Batumelebi, is considered the
best source of credible information for the area; the other paper,
Batumi, is considered of marginal importance.


3. (SBU) Ajara TV's general director Tsetskhladze is the former
press secretary of Levan Varshalomidze, the head of the government
in the region (and a National Movement member). She acts to
strictly control the coverage of the election campaign on Ajara TV
and Radio in favor of the National Movement. Opposition parties
complain that they are ignored by Ajara TV, or that stories about
them are slanted - thus when the United National Council transferred
computers from the Batumi City Council to their office, it was
reported as if the UNC was asking for office space in the Council
premises. The campaign law stipulates that bona fide candidates be
given free advertising and this is being followed, but the
opposition feels that Saakashvili's campaign is widely and regularly
reported on by Ajara, while their campaigns are not. Meanwhile the
only independent channel, Channel 25, which was quite
anti-government in the past, and was shut down by the government on
November 7, now is largely quiet. While it has no apparent direct
obligations or links to the government; however, its journalists and
owners practice extreme self-censorship. This seems to be due to
avoid being shut down by the authorities over their tax arrears.
During this pre-election period the Channel will only air one
political and one analytical talk show (funded by Internews) on
December 26. Meanwhile Radio Green Wave - which is viewed as a very
independent source of news and had broadcast to the entire region -
is now off the air due to technical reasons.


4. (SBU) When asked about this situation, the National Movement's
campaign manager for Ajara, Kakha Getsadze, said there was little
need for media coverage of the election in Ajara. "The voters are
well-informed anyway; people have felt the positive changes on their
own skin. The presidential campaign has not warmed up yet and,
correspondingly, the journalists seem to be less active." When asked
if the National Movement headquarters has a press officer Mr.
Getsadze responded: "Not important. The journalists can always find
us easily."


5. (SBU) Comment. While analysts are focusing on the national media
based in Tbilisi, it is clear that media in the regions,
particularly the Ajara autonomous region, bears watching. The lack
of a fully developed media and self-censorship and economic
pressures combine to limit true debate and election coverage in
Ajara. End Comment.

TEFFT