“Marneuli TV” will serve the Marneuli self-government for 199,500 GEL

The service agreement between Marneuli City Hall and Marneuli Television was signed on January 23 of this year. The cost of the service was determined at 199,500 GEL (including VAT).

The document states what specific services the television will provide to the local self-government:

Broadcasting of audio-visual announcements containing important information for the public in Georgian. (Duration of one unit not less than 30 seconds) in accordance with the request of the purchaser;

Broadcasting of audio-visual announcements containing important information for the public in Azerbaijani. (Duration of one unit not less than 30 seconds) in accordance with the request of the purchaser.

Live broadcast of reports, briefings, press conferences (from the City Hall and/or television) of the Mayor or his deputies, and/or the Chairman of the City Council or his deputies, heads of the AIAs and heads of services and/or departments, field and online activities, New Year and religious holidays, as well as sports and cultural events, theatrical performances, concerts and other events of importance to society. (According to the request of the Purchaser).

Broadcasting of City Council meetings, meetings, bureau meetings (by agreement), reports, and/or meetings of the Mayor, his deputies and heads of services, reports on television, one unit, with a running time of at least 10 minutes, in Georgian; in total, within the framework of the agreement, in the amount of 14 new units;

One-time repeat broadcast of each new unit of service provided for in paragraph 4;

Broadcasting of the meetings of the City Council, meetings, bureau meetings (by agreement), reports, and/or meetings of the mayor, his deputies and heads of departments, reports on television, one unit of at least 10 minutes in length, in the Azerbaijani language; in total, 14 new units within the framework of the agreement;

One-time repeat broadcast of each new unit of service provided for in paragraph 6;

According to the latest extract from the Public Registry, the director and owner of Marneuli TV LLC is Zaza Babluani.

The new owner, in the best possible reality, is obliged to create decent working conditions for journalists and impartially inform the public.

Given the vicious practice in the country related to receiving funding from self-government, the latter is a real challenge. Due to the fact that until now in Georgia the party and self-government have not been separated and the budget amount is associated with the execution of the “will” of the ruling team – this type of customer constantly has the expectation that along with airtime, he has also bought editorial policy. In other words, when you are almost completely dependent on a public institution for your income, you will most likely not become a “controller” of this institution.

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