On July 26, 2014, Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics examined the complaint made against author and host of “Archevani”, show on media channel “Rustavi 2”, Giorgi Gabunia by “Young Barristers”. Chartier did not arrive to conclusion concerning the case. It is still unknow wether or not did Giorgi Gabunia violate charter of ethics.

„Young Barristers“ pointed in the complaint, that journalist Giorgi Gabunia, on April 8^th, 2014, with him making a statement and spreading the information on air, violated the charter of journalistic ethics three articles. The organization addressed charter with the complaint about possible violation of three articles. In particular, “Young Barristers” consider that Giorgi Gabunia violated next articles:

• Article 1: “Journalist should respect the truth and the will of society – accepting the right information”
• Article 3: “journalist should transmit the information only if the source of the facts is validated. Journalist should not hide important fact, should not fraud any documents and information”
• Article 5: “media is responsible to correct the inaccurate information, which leads society into misunderstanding.”

The background of the case is such: journalist Giorgi Gabunia, on April 8^th, 2014, during the interview with the first guest in the show, Minister of Defense of Georgia, Irakli Alania, to show that a certain group in government has deliberate antagonistic campaign and that there are certain non-governmental organizations, who amplify this position, “Young Barristers” were mentioned among such organizations. In addition to that, the journalist aired a fraud information, saying that “Young Barristers” were working under the patronage of Ministry of International Affairs, although, the journalist does not have any concrete document about the validity of this information.

During the examination of the case, Georgian Carter of Journalistic Ethics made a hearing of argumentation of three articles from co-founder and leader, Archil Kaikatsishvili. Commission asked question, concerning circumstances of the case. The attitude towards first article of the charter arose the discussion. Archil Kaikatsishvili made next statement on the meeting:

„We consider, that journalist Giorgi Gabunia violated 1^st article of charter, according to which, journalist should respect truth and public right – receive valid information. When the question was asked to the minister, Giorgi Gabunia did not have any argumentation for the meaning of the question. The host and author of the show stated against “Young Barristers”, that organization “has many connections to the active government” and that “there is serious doubt that they are acting under Ministry of Internal Affairs’ patronage”. At the moment, discussable are the circumstances, of what kind of information did the journalist offer to public – opinion or fact. We think that the journalist, by stating “many people and serious doubts”, aired fraud information. The information is fraud because journalist, during his so called revelation, did not state any evidence. The fact, that “many” say and that there are some doubt, means that it is a supposition. Thus, information bestowed to the public, that “Young Barristers” have secret connection with MIA, would not have been truth, because he relied on the gossip. Accordingly, the commission stands before problem, which during stating of 1^st article of charter, must essentially evaluate the context of statement and respond to next questions: “What is truth?”, “Journalist, who respected truth, is it truth?”, “did public receive the precise information?”, “What should have been the precise information from the journalist?”. Thus, we consider that Giorgi Gabunia violated 1^st article of charter of ethics, which obligated him to respect the truth and defense of the public right – to get the precise information” – Stated Archil Kaikatsishvili.

One of the members of journalistic commission, journalis Nino Zuriashvili became interested, wether or not did Giorgi Gabunia take the “many say” and “some serious doubts” from the affair going between the organization and chief redactor of magazine “Tabula”, Tamar Chergoleishvili. In particular, Nino Zuriashvili noted, that there was big response on Tamar Chergoleishvilis Facebook post concerning “Young Barristers”. Accordingly, the reason of Giorgi Gabunia’s statement might have become the response from any of the authors from Tamar Chergoleishvilis Facebook post, on which Archil Kaikatsishvili stated that none of the ethics commission or person cannot bring and evidence on “Young Barristers”-s connection with MIA.

„It is true, the organization has legal argument against Tamar Chergoleishvili, nonetheless, there can be foud no response on the post made by Mrs. Tamar that concerns secret connection of “Young Barristers” and MIA. Giorgi Gabunia was first that publicly stated such information, and took “doubt” and “saying of many” as evidence. It is easy to theorize, that the journalist was entrusted with the mission to spread fraud information, though, we are interested in journalist’s professional standards instead of political games, which is natural when concerning the topic. In addition to this, if we assume that even 10 people have this view about “Young Barristers”, is stated in public space, and journalist Giorgi Gabunia calls it opinion of “many people”, the matter becomes more regrettable. Even if we assume, that for Giorgi Gabunia did not violate first article of charter, because these 10 people are of his importance and their opinion can be considered as “truth” or “precise information”, there is a chance that there are more than 10 people who think of “Young Barristers” different way. Thus, “respect towards truth” and “precise information” should not be depended on how many people share the same opinion. It must be dependent on evidences and facts, and opinion should not become the standard for spread of information.  The journalist should have either asked the question different way and/or presented the facts to public”. – Stated Archil Kaikatsishvili on the meeting.

On the basis of organisation’s evaluation, in the given circumstances, media company “Rustavi 2” was responsible, to correct essentialy incorrect information. Media company chose to ignore letter from the organization sent on April 10^th, 2014, and did not correct the deliberate mistake of it’s’ journalist. In addition to this, commission of ethics was provided with the information, that organization was not given the chance to state its’ position any other way, while the media company was attending the briefing and there were no further broadcasts. Organization also responded all questions from the commission of ethics’ side, amongst them, presented the evidence about the fact, that it was not “personal attacks” against Minister of Defense, as during questioning, Giorgi Gabunia informed public, but the relationship with ministry represented during monitoring, study of matters in the logistics sphere, institutional investigation and not “targeted campaign”, as journalist presented.

„Young Barristers“ addressed Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics with complaint against Giorgi Gabunia on May 2, 2014. Neither Giorgi Gabunia, nor his legal defendant was present on the meeting of July 26, 2014. Decision concerning the case will be made in few days.