Thursday, August 14, 2025
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Satellite dishes will not be distributed after all

Maestro director Ilia Kikabidze says the government's offer was just a ruse to fool the international community into believing that it cares about freedom of expression. (DFWatch photo.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – Negotiations a TV company and the government about installing satellite receivers have failed.

The director of Maestro TV claims the government’s offer to negotiate about the distribution of the equipment was just a ruse, and that it never planned

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Media demonstrated outside Saakashvili's palace

Director of Maestro TV, Ilia Kikabidze, tried to deliver a satellite dish full of signatures to President Mikheil Saakashvili's residence. It was rejected. (Photo: Londa Beria.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – A rally was held Wednesday outside President Mikheil Saakashvili’s residence in protest against the seizure of thousands of satellite dishes which prevents Georgians from seeing government-critical channels.

The president’s residence

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Seizures without Prosecution

Alexander Baramidze is a lawyer currently working for Bidzina Ivanishvili.

One of the blatant illegalities that the Georgian authorities have repeatedly committed in the last few months is that they seize one’s property without bringing charges against the owner of such property or any other person with whom the owner may somehow

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'Dish protest' in front of parliament

Around sixteen thousand satellite dishes have been taken away from Maestro TV by the prosecutor's office, which accuses them of trying to bribe voters into voting for the opposition. (Photo: Mari Nikuradze.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – Media workers and others demonstrated in front of the old parliament in Tbilisi Wednesday in support of Maestro TV. They demanded the immediate return of equipment seized from the company.

The crowd held real and symbolic satellite

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More equipment seized from Maestro TV

Shorena Shaverdashvili (left), Lasha Tughushi and Ilia Kikabidze (right) speaking at a press conference Tuesday. (Photo: Mari Nikuradze.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – More of Maestro’s satellite equipment was seized yesterday by police on the Georgian border, the company’s director informs.

Ilia Kikabidze, General Director of Maestro TV, today said at a press conference that three cars were seized yesterday,

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