Georgia set to make its printed media pay full taxes

The Georgian government is about to pass a law which obliges the country's printed media to pay full taxes starting from 2007. Newspaper staff claim it could double the price of papers and magazines.

After the Rose revolution in 2003, the Georgian printed media was freed from government taxes, but the agreement between the two sides is expiring.

Naturally, the newspaper staff expressed their concern. If taxes are paid, it is likely that the price of newspapers will go up 40%, while people's salaries remain the same.

The Georgian government said that it is abiding by the law.

The tax news was not the first surprise for the Georgian media. Recently the Georgian Communications Regulation Commission submitted a draft ethics code for TV and radio journalists. Print and broadcast journalists joined in condemning both decisions by the government.