(Mari Nikuradze /OC Media)
Ownership of pro-opposition Georgian TV channel Rustavi 2 has been transferred to businessman Kibar Khalvashi, a previous owner, after a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The court ruled that the previous owners’ right to a fair trial was not violated when Georgia’s Supreme Court ordered that ownership should be transferred. [Read more…]
The Russian communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has blocked Ingush news site Fortanga. The move came as one of the site’s journalists and an activist against Ingushetia’s land swap with Chechnya were remanded into two months of pre-trial detention.
(Mari Nikuradze / OC Media)
Georgia’s parliament is to discuss a new bill regulating hate speech on television. The controversial draft law, deemed ‘dangerous for freedom of speech’ by media advocacy groups, would allow televised ‘hate speech’ to be appealed through the courts or to Georgia's Communication Commission. [Read more…]
The arrest of Meduza journalist Ivan Golunov mirrors the treatment of government critics in the North Caucasus. The persecution of journalists and government critics in Russia must end — including those under pressure in the North Caucasus. [Read more…]
Sevinj Vagifgizi (Facebook)
A woman in Azerbaijan is suing a journalist for filming her appearing to commit election fraud during last year’s presidential election. [Read more…]
Natia Kapanadze (Adjara TV)
Natia Kapanadze has been dismissed from her position as director of Adjara TV, a public broadcaster in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, after four out of five members of the channel’s Advisory Board passed a motion of no confidence against her. Kapanadze has pledged to appeal the board’s decision in court.
(report.az)
The Azerbaijani State Fund to Support Development of the Mass Media has raised the eligibility requirements for newspapers to receive support, effectively cutting off support for most newspapers. [Read more…]
Khadzhimurad Kamalov (chernovik.net)
A court in the Russian Republic of Daghestan has convicted a suspect in the murder of Khadzhimurad Kamalov, the founder of Daghestani newspaper Chernovik, for possession of ammunition and drugs. Magomed Khazamov, the former head of the village of Bogatyryovka, insists the weapons and drugs were planted on him to force him to confess to the murder or to implicate others.
Aslanbek Dadayev (/Facebook)
A journalist from RFE/RL’s Chechen-language service, Radio Marsho, was denied entry to Georgia on Thursday. Aslanbek Dadayev wrote on his Facebook page that Georgian border guards had decided his ‘stay in the country would be dangerous’.
Office space for camera operators (Magomed Teppeyev)
Employees from the state media holding of the Russian republic Kabardino-Balkaria have appealed to the authorities over violations of their labour rights. Camera operators from KBR-Media complained of unfair working conditions, including being forced to work weekends for little remuneration. [Read more…]
