TBILISI, DFWatch–A jailed newspaper editor in Georgia has been offered a plea deal by prosecutors as her trial draws to an end. Founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, Mzia Amaghlobeli, is on trial for slapping a police officer during a January protest. Her trial has drawn widespread condemnation. As the court goes through the evidence, the … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–A jailed newspaper editor in Georgia has been offered a plea deal by prosecutors as her trial draws to an end. Founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, Mzia Amaghlobeli, is on trial for slapping a police officer during a January protest. Her trial has drawn widespread condemnation. As the court goes through the evidence, the … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into Mtavari Arkhi, one of the opposition’s most effective television channels, just two months after it permanently ceased broadcasting due to financial difficulties. The Prosecutor General’s Office said the probe targets alleged “abuse of managerial authority”, “embezzlement”, and “money laundering” by company executives. The investigation was triggered … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–In Batumi, on Georgia’s Black Sea coast, journalist and co‑founder of outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, Mzia Amaghlobeli, was fined 1,000 GEL (USD 365) for placing a protest sticker outside the regional police headquarters. The incident took place during an opposition rally in January. The sticker bore the message “Georgia Swears an Oath” and was meant … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–A day after Rustavi 2’s new owner laid out his plans to revamp Georgia’s biggest opposition TV company, the newly appointed director sacks several of its key journalists. The list outlined on Tuesday by Paata Salia, Rustavi 2’s new director, includes the head of its news division Nodar Melia, and news anchor Giorgi Gabunia, … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–The new owner of Rustavi 2 is not planning to sell his shares. Instead, Kibar Shalvashi plans to develop Georgia’s largest opposition TV channel as a “critical and rigorous” outlet. “I consider it my primary duty to put television freed from Saakashvili into public service and regain confidence, to be critical and rigorous, but … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court has placed Nika Gvaramia under GEL 40,000 bail in a controversial corruption trial that the opposition calls politically motivated. Initially, the Prosecutor’s Office wanted even stricter bail conditions: GEL 80,000 bail and banning the former head of Rustavi 2 from leaving the country. Gvaramia claims the case is politically motivated and … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s largest opposition TV channel Rustavi 2 will likely be taken over by an allegedly government-backed investor after losing the final court battle over its ownership at the European Court of Human Rights. In Thursday’s judgment, the court held that there had been no violation of Article 6 § 1 of the European Convention … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–The director of Georgia’s biggest opposition TV company claims the government is using tax laws to to get it off air ahead of the local elections in October.
“TV company Rustavi 2 is again under threat […] The state is seemingly preparing for a decisive blow
TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia has suspended two high ranking officials to ensure the impartiality of an investigation into the alleged abduction of an Azerbaijani investigative journalist.
The decision comes after immense pressure from human rights groups,