• The Tbilisi City Court fined [1] TV company “Formula” with 5,000 GEL, following an appeal [2] by the Communications Commission, for recognising the party “Gakharia for Georgia” as a qualified subject and also ordered “Formula” to remove free political ads of Giorgi Gakharia's party from the air. The Communications Commission deemed “Formula’s” decision to grant the party “Gakharia for Georgia” the status of a qualified subject as unlawful. “Formula” had relied on research by Edison Research, which showed the party had over 4% support. However, the Commission found “Formula” in violation because it did not submit documents verifying the results of the public opinion survey.

According to the Election Code, a broadcaster has the right to recognise a political party as a qualified election subject if, based on a poll conducted across the entire territory of Georgia within one month before the election, the party has at least 4% voter support. The Communications Commission received detailed information from "Formula" confirming Edison Research's poll's compliance with legal requirements. The Commission’s demands for “Formula” to verify the credibility of the survey using non-existent legal criteria are unclear and unlawful. Even the “Media Ombudsman” considers the decision of the Communication Commission illegal [3].
This decision further strengthens the argument that the Communications Commission is not politically neutral during the pre-election period and is acting in favor of the ruling party.
During this pre-election period, the Commission has repeatedly imposed financial sanctions on critical broadcasters, including a 2,500 GEL fine on “Mtavari” on August 15 [4], and multiple violations issued on September 13 [5], September 19 [6], and October 9, [7] against “Mtavari”, “TV Pirveli”, and “Formula”, with each being fined 5,000 GEL three times.