The Media Advocacy Coalition strongly condemns the persecution of journalists by members of the Public Broadcaster’s Board of Trustees affiliated with the Georgian Dream. The Board members’ call for the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate statements made by professional and ethical journalists is deeply concerning.

We believe this represents unprecedented pressure on media freedom and poses a direct threat to journalists who fulfill their professional duty and expose the leadership of the public broadcaster and Ivanishvili’s regime in illegal actions.

On March 21 of this year, several members of the Public Broadcaster’s Board of Trustees discussed critical statements made by Public Broadcaster journalists Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, Nino Zautashvili, Kakha Melikidze, and Gia Imnaishvili. Rather than addressing appropriately to the credible information shared by these journalists, the Georgian Dream-aligned Board Members including Chairman Vasil Maghlaperidze, Grigol (Gia) Murghulia, Giorgi Kokhreidze, Tamila Dolidze, Bondo Mdzinarashvili, Izabela Osipova, Giorgi Iakobashvili, and Soso Sturua-called for the Prosecutor’s Office involvement and investigation of the case. The Board made groundless allegations that the journalists were acting based on “financial or political interests.” “I have the impression that a Masonic lodge is involved in all this,” stated Board member Tamila Dolidze.

This case is not isolated incident – it represents part of the broader pattern of the Georgian Dream affecting professional, independent, and pro-European journalists. Under the current leadership, the Public Broadcaster’s editorial approach has shown particular biases in favor of Ivanishvili’s regime, as documented by various independent monitoring organizations. 

There are numerous cases and testimonies from current and former journalists exposing the broadcaster’s propagandistic and disinformation policies. The European Parliament demands sanctions against Board Chairman Vasil Maghlaperidze and Director Tinatin Berdzenishvili for propagating narratives of the repressive regime.

It’s worth noting that alongside ongoing demonstrations, every day, citizens are gathering and protesting at the Public Broadcaster’s building, demanding that the broadcaster fulfills its mission, provides adequate coverage, and conveys the people’s voice to society.

The Public Broadcaster’s role is critically important for Georgia’s democratic ecosystem,  and specific journalists standing out with independence and professionalism contribute to maintaining public trust in the idea of public broadcasting. Despite the pressure, these journalists uphold professional standards and attempt to provide objective information to the public.

The Media Advocacy Coalition expresses support for the professional journalists at the Public Broadcaster and encourages the international community, particularly the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), to actively engage in the current situation and examine the circumstances described above.