Page 52 - GEORptNov20

9.1.9 ​TMT sector news
Revised bill in Georgia raises media freedom concerns
Georgia’s parliament has ​endorsed​ ​controversial amendments to the Law on Electronic Communications that, among other things, allow the Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC) to appoint “special managers” to telecommunication companies if a penalty or fine set for a certain violation fails to ensure the enforcement of a Commission decision.
The special manager would be appointed until the relevant company complied with the Commission’s decision.
Most broadcasters operating in Georgia are at the same time authorised persons in the field of electronic communications and this provision will apply directly to them, the Georgia Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) stressed in ​a press release​ o​ n the topic.
The revised law would allow the Commission to appoint special managers to these broadcasters, make management decisions "and intervene in editorial decisions", GYLA warned.
According to the initial draft of the revised law, in the case of the suspension or revocation of the broadcaster's licence, this decision would take effect immediately and, until the court issued a decision to suspend it, the broadcaster would have to suspend its activities, something which would cause significant damage to its activities, GYLA commented.
However, this last provision—in fact, an amendment to the Law on Broadcasting debated concomitantly—was dropped by those who drafted the bill.
GYLA also criticised the fact that the bill has not been subject to a mandatory regulatory impact assessment.
Those behind the amendments argued that immediate consideration of the bill "is necessary to ensure state and public safety." The amendments were passed several weeks after an opposition TV channel came under investigation for allegedly misinforming the population about actions of the authorities in relation to the response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
According to the final version of the amendments to the Law on Electronic Communications, the special manager would be authorised to appoint and/or dismiss company director(s) and member(s) of the supervisory boards (if any). It would be empowered to file lawsuits in court against contracts or deals made up to a year before his/her appointment and demand their annulment.
The special manager would have the right to suspend or restrict the company’s right to distribute profits, dividends and bonuses, or to increase salaries. It would also have the right to perform other functions of the company’s governing body except for the selling of its assets or shares.
In a July 17​ ​statement​, R​ eporters Without Borders (RSF) accused the parliament, led by the ruling Georgian Dream party, of attempting to "control radio and television channels" under the guise of a “crusade against disinformation”.
9.1.10 ​Renewable energy sector news
Georgia considers using green hydrogen to store hydropower
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) accepted and, in a deal signed this week, agreed to provide technical cooperation support to assess investment requirements in Georgia for green hydrogen generation, as well as to upgrade existing assets to transport blended hydrogen to end-users.
52​ GEORGIA Country Report ​November 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com