Satellite antennas imported by Maestro Ltd. sealed
12.07.12 20:30
In the course of the investigation opened on June 20, 2012 into the crime of vote-buying, Maestro Ltd, under the instructions of Elita Burji Ltd - a company associated to Georgian Dream Coalition, has recently imported thousands of satellite antennas, the Georgian Prosecutor`s Office reports.
"The investigation has sufficient evidence to believe that the antennas will be distributed in accordance to the scheme of vote-buying previously used by Global Contact Consulting Ltd another company associated with Georgian Dream Coalition. Prosecutor`s Office has obtained an authorization from the Tbilisi City Court and sealed the antennas;
"The investigation aims at avoiding criminalization of electoral processes and ensuring respect of the rights and freedoms of individuals and political parties", the statement released by the office says.
Maestro TV founders also released today an address regarding the latest developing around the TV company. The appeal was addressed to media sources, NGOs, diplomatic corps and international observers.
"Maestro Company started a PR campaign with the title ‘Maestro in all Families’ on 3 July, within the framework of which installation of satellite antennas were palled in regions. The Prosecutor’s office submitted a motion to the court about seizing the antennas on 11 July. On the same day Tbilisi Civil Court granted the motion submitted by prosecutor’s office about seizing the Maestro antennas. The Georgian prosecutor’s office explained that the measures aim at protecting the pre-election processes from presumable criminal engagement and providing political parties and citizens with election rights and freedom of expression. Maestro TV says it is an independent private company, the only aim of which is development and expansion of audience. The leadership of the TV company assumes that by restricting installation of satellite antennas the government is impeding development of free media source and consequently, it restricts the right of people to get diverse information ahead of parliamentary elections", the statement says.
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