TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) supports the Press Association rally Tuesday and says Tbilisi City Hall is worsening the conditions of the print media’s distribution system.

GYLA says that the organization thinks that the government has a positive obligation to support freedom of the media; which first of all is to get rid of the direct or non-direct factors intervening in the spread of the free word.

“GYLA shares the Press Association’s concern regarding the fact that holding a tender to locate booths, in the form which the City Hall is now doing, is nothing more than restricting the spread of newspapers and magazines in an indirect way.”

“It is unacceptable to grant the right to sell food products and newspapers-magazines under identical conditions and without treating them differently. Due to information spread by the Press Association, the City Hall decision has negatively impacted the circulation of print media and significantly damaged the press, which is already in a very difficult condition,” GYLA’s statement says.

GYLA considers it of vital importance that there will be an adequate reaction from City Hall to provide the best possible liveable conditions for the distribution of printed media, taking into consideration today’s events, and to actively monitor these measures.