34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?

During the election campaign in their respective coverage areas, the Public Broadcaster, Ajara TV and Radio of the Public Broadcaster, and any community broadcaster shall allot, from the 50th day before the Election Day, in every hour five minutes to broadcast free of charge, the pre-election advertisements, and every 3 hours broadcast free of charge and without discrimination, the pre-election advertisements submitted to them by each qualified electoral subject , on the condition that the time allotted to a qualified electoral subject during such period shall not exceed 90 seconds (each electoral subject may divide the time allotted in several parts). The airtime not used by an electoral subject may not be added to other airtime allotted to the electoral subject.

During the election campaign in its respective coverage area, the Public Broadcaster carrying out general broadcasting shall allot, from the 50th day before the Election Day, in every three hours no less than 7.5 minutes to broadcast free of charge, the pre-election advertisements, and broadcast on the basis of equality and without discrimination, the pre-election advertisements submitted to it by each qualified electoral subject, on the condition that the time allotted to a qualified electoral subject during such period shall not exceed 90 seconds (each electoral subject may divide the time allotted in several parts). The airtime not used by an electoral subject may not be added to other airtime allotted to the electoral subject. 
Source: საქართველოს ორგანული კანონი საქართველოს საარჩევნო კოდექსი, 186-ე მუხლი, მე-4 და მე-5 ნაწილები, 1997
[Article 186 (4, 5), Organic Law of Georgia Election Code of Georgia, 2011].

As per the law, Public Broadcasters are required to dedicate a minimum of 5 minutes per hour, free of charge, for pre-election advertisements during the election campaign. They must broadcast the ads submitted by each qualified electoral subject with fairness and without discrimination. However, the time allocated to a qualified electoral subject should not exceed 90 seconds.

For other national broadcasters, they are obligated to allocate at least 7.5 minutes every three hours for the free broadcast of pre-election advertisements.

Even though Article 27 (1) of the Organic Law of Georgia on Political Associations of Citizens (1997) specifically refers to "donations received by a party," the standard practice extends this regulation to candidates as well. In essence, the rules governing candidates often mirror those already in place for political parties, though the legislative clarity on this matter may not be consistent. Despite any potential ambiguity in the law, applying these principles to both parties and candidates is widely accepted and uncontested.