Tbilisi City Court has rejected an appeal by Tbilisi-based TV station Maestro made against a decision by the Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC).

Maestro is embroiled in a dispute with the GNCC over a political programming license. On April 4 the commission refused to issue the TV station with such a license.

Maestro TV, which goes out on cable in the capital, as well as in Rustavi, Telavi and Gori, can currently only broadcast entertainment and music programs.

Georgian Public Defender Sozar Subari has expressed deep concern over the court ruling, saying that “the so-called 'new wave of democracy' declared by the president is a contradiction of democratic values.”

“This ruling by Tbilisi City Court is symptomatic of the pressure on freedom of speech and expression in the country,” a statement issued by Subari on September 30 reads. “The authorities are intolerant of media outlets not controlled by them.”