TBILISI, DFWatch – The Republican Party expresses solidarity with distributors and publishers of print media and joins the Press Association in its demands.

The party released a statement Tuesday saying that it protests against Tbilisi City Hall’s decision to remove newspaper kiosks.

“Tbilisi City Hall’s decision several weeks ago about the location of booths turned out, as expected, to be the next instrument of attack against the press and small business. We have been opposing this decision since the very first day, because it serves to monopolize this sector and root out small business. In addition we demand from City Hall that they publish statistical data of already conducted auctions, and also specific information about the companies and individuals which have been granted the several years right to locate booths on the territory of the capital,” the statement says.

It is quite clear to the decision-makers that the distributors of newspapers will never manage to really compete with food, cigarette or lottery companies, the statement explains.

“Everybody knows that a ‘special’ place in this segment is held by Kezerashvili’s company and the government leaves the monopolized situation exactly to his company,” the statement end.

Similar statements were made by the Labor Party, Free Georgia party and and the Georgian Party.

The Free Democrats, New Rightists party, Christian Democratic Movement, National Forum and Georgia’s Way have earlier expressed their support.

Georgian businessman’s Bidzina Ivanishvili press office has also released a statement giving support.