On July 31, 2020, at Hotel Hilton, in Batumi, the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Supreme Election Commission of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara organised a workshop for representatives of local media on “Media regulations during electoral processes – international and domestic standards”.The participants of the meeting discussed the main aspect of sharing information during the elections.

The workshop was opened by the Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia Vahagn Muradyan and the Chairperson of the Supreme Election Commission of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. Genadi Kosiak, the deputy head of the division of elections and civil society, the Council of Europe, summarized the meeting.

The representatives of mainstream, print and online media outlets working in Adjara region focusing on legislative changes related to media during elections; rights and duties of media representatives on Election day; COVID-19 and special voting arrangements; mechanisms for countering hate speech during the election campaign; international standards and best practices on the role and conduct of media during electoral processes. The workshop was led by experts of the Council of Europe.

The event was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe projects “Supporting Transparency, Inclusiveness and Integrity of Electoral Practice and Process in Georgia” and “Supporting Freedom of Media and Internet in Georgia”.The meeting was held with all recommendations related to the new coronavirus pandemic.