Georgia fines opposition TV channel Formula over anti-government language

Georgia's state media regulator has fined the opposition-leaning television channel Formula for breaching impartiality standards, in the first such sanction under controversial new broadcasting laws.

The Communications Commission (ComCom) ordered the station to pay 2,500 lari (£740; $940) following a monitoring review of its news programmes in April.

The regulator said Formula had violated legal requirements for balance and impartiality, citing the dissemination of "personal opinions" by its journalists.

Phrases flagged as violations included referring to the administration as "Ivanishvili's government"—a reference to Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili—the courts as "the regime's judiciary", and calling a rival station "pro-government Rustavi 2".

Such terms are frequently used by critics of the ruling Georgian Dream party, particularly since disputed parliamentary elections in October 2024.

ComCom also accused the channel of failing to provide balance in a report about parents demanding medicine for children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, alleging that the health ministry's perspective was omitted.

Formula told local media outlet OC Media that it plans to appeal against the ruling once it receives the formal decision.

The broadcaster had previously received a written warning, prompting the regulator to issue what it described as the "minimum fine" for a repeat offence.

Under legislative changes introduced by the ruling party in 2025, the power to regulate broadcasting standards was transferred from self-regulatory bodies within individual television stations to ComCom, a state regulator.

Critics have expressed concern over the independence of the body, which is chaired by Goga Gulordava, a former Georgian Dream member of parliament who was elected to the post in January 2026.

In March, ComCom announced it would proactively enforce compliance with broadcasting provisions. The decision followed a strong reaction from Georgian authorities after the UK sanctioned two pro-government Georgian channels, POSTV and Imedi, over the dissemination of Russian disinformation.