Staff changes were made to the newsroom of Imedi TV on June 23, 2016. Maia Tabagari, the head of newsroom, was replaced by journalist Nana Lezhava. Tabagari became a consultant to the director general.

A group of journalists from Imedi TV issued a statement, claiming that replacement of the head of newsroom during the pre-election period would cast doubt on the reputation and reliability of the TV channel and its employees, as well as the quality of freedom of speech.

Shortly before staff changes Irakli Rukhadze was appointed the chairman of the TV channel’s Supervisory Board. Following Rukhadze’s appointment, in order to avoid conflict of interests, his mother, Natela Sakhokia had to quit the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s Board of Trustees.    

Rukhadze’s name is also associated with the issue of changing hands at Maestro TV. A 55% owner of Maestro TV, Giorgi Gachechiladze publicly stated that in order to solve Maestro’s financial problems he contacted the Patarkatsishvili family and his friend, Irakli Rukhadze pledged to assist him. Irakli Rukhadze is the chief executive of Salford Georgia and remains affiliated with the Patarkatsishvili family. Before his official appointment, he was even believed to be an informal manager of Imedi TV. TV anchor, Inga Grigolia hints at Rukhadze’s decision when talking about the closure of her program on Imedi TV.

At various times Nana Lezhava was Rustavi 2 TV reporter, one of the founders of the Movement for United Georgia political party, founder of GNS studio and anchor of TV3 news program.  

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On June 23, 2016 staff changes were made to the the newsroom of Imedi TV. Maia Tabagari, the head of newsroom, was replaced by journalist Nana Lezhava. Tabagari became the consultant to the director general. Imedi TV journalist issued a statement regarding the replacement of the head of the newsroom. According to them, replacement of the head of newsroom in the pre-election period would cast doubt on the reputation and reliability of the TV channel and its employees, as well as the quality of freedom of speech. 

At various times Nana Lezhava was Rustavi 2 TV reporter, one of the founders of the Movement for United Georgia political party, founder of GNS studio and anchor of TV3 news program. 

On July 27, in a few days after the replacement of the head of the newsroom, Diana Trapaidze, the anchor of “Qronika Studio” left the TV channel. Since September, Trapaidze is the anchor the talkshow on TV PIrveli. On August 12, the anchor of the political talk-show “Politics” Teona Gegelia stated that she will no longer lead the talk-show and continue her work on the web-site of the TV channel.

 Staff changes to the the newsroom was preceded by the appointment of Irakli Rukhadze as the the chairman of the TV channel’s Supervisory Board. For her part, in order to avoid conflict of interests, Rukhadze’s mother Natela Sakhokia left her position as the member of the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s Board of Trustees.

 Rukhadze’s name was also involved in the issue of changing hands at Maestro TV. A 55% owner of Maestro TV, Giorgi Gachechiladze publicly stated that in order to solve Maestro’s financial problems he contacted the Patarkatsishvili family and his friend, Irakli Rukhadze who pledged to assist him. Irakli Rukhadze is the chief executive of Salford Georgia and remains affiliated with the Patarkatsishvili family. He is even believed to be an informal manager of Imedi TV. TV anchor, Inga Grigolia hints at Rukhadze’s decision when talking about the closure of her program on Imedi TV. Currently, Inga Grigolia runs her program at TV Pirveli.

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On June 19, the journalist of the TV Company Rustavi 2, ElenePirtskhalaishvili and the operator Giorgi Tsanava were abused at the Tbilisi International Airport. During the interview with MP from opposition party, unknown man verbally insulted Rustavi 2 crew and then physically insulted the cameraman. 

Later, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia released a statement. According to the Ministry, after Rustavi 2 crew finalized recording, an unknown person abused them and then walked away. As the MIA explained, Rustavi 2’s cameraman chased the unknown person and physically insulted him, which was followed by verbal and physical confrontation.

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Policemen examined the cameraman of Rustavi 2 and another person participated in the incident. According to the MIA, they did not have any claim against each other. MIA launched an investigation under the article 125 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (battery). According to the Ministry, Rustavi 2 crew was not recognized as a victim in this particular criminal case.

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Zurab Nakeuri, director of Maestro TV, terminated an employment contract with Giorgi Isakadze, author and manager of TV shows – Business Contact; Sakmiani Dila and Analytics - from June 1, 2016. Isakadze received a notice of termination on May 30. Maestro TV cited differences between Isakadze and the TV management as the reason behind his dismissal.

On July 2, the day after Isakadze’s dismissal, Maestro TV suspended employment contracts with four journalists of Business Contact and Sakmiani Dila – Tamuna Kemertelidze, Telara Gelantia, Elene Kvanchilashvili and Beka Batsikadze. In this case, participation in a rival Rustavi 2 TV’s talk show Archevani was cited as the reason. Archevani TV program was dedicated to the Rustavi 2 TV ownership dispute and most of the invited guests were loyal towards the TV channel.    

In a couple of hours after suspending contracts with four employees of Business Contact and Sakmiani Dila, the channel’s management made similar decision with respect to 32 other employees of the same programs. Again, Zurab Nakeuri cited the staff’s conduct behind his decision. He said that their position on continuation of employment relations with Maestro TV was unknown and therefore, he decided to suspend cooperation with them.

Labor rights of journalists and producers are protected in court by Georgian Young Lawyers Association, Transparency International – Georgia and Georgian Trade Unions Confederation.    

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On June 2, the Media Development Foundation (MDF) slammed the suspension of employment contracts with four journalists of Business Contact and Sakmiani Dila as an unjustified restriction on freedom of expression. 

On June 3, a group of NGOs among them Transparency International Georgia, Society and Banks, International Chamber of Commerce, Georgian Farmers’ Association, Georgian Sheep-breeders’ Association, Georgian Small and Medium Enterprises Association and Economic Policy Research Center released a joint statement, claiming that the management’s decision to suspend or terminate labor relations with its employees will have negative effects on editorial independence and motivation of other journalists working for the TV channel.

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Journalists from Livepress, Ipress and TV Radio Company Odishi were prevented from performing their professional duties during local by-elections on May 22, when several leaders of opposition United National Movement party were beaten outside a polling station in the village of Kortskheli of Zugdidi municipality. As of May 23, Ipress reporter Irma Meskhia has already been questioned over the incident, and questioning of journalist Tamar Zantaraia from Livepress is still underway. The investigation is ongoing under article 125 (Battery) of the criminal code of Georgia. No investigation has been launched under article 154 (Unlawful interference with the journalist's professional activities) so far.

Ipress incident

Ipress online edition reported that on May 22, following the Kortskheli incident, those athletes, who were involved in the incident outside the polling station, did not allow Ipress journalist Irma Meskhia, who was in a restaurant Argo in the village of Rukhi, to move freely for half an hour and demanded her to delete all photos taken in the restaurant. Irma Meskhia told MDF that they took away her mobile phone and deleted all audio and photo materials, insulted her verbally and even threatened. Ipress editorial board notified police of plate number of the vehicle carrying the perpetrators.

Livepress incident

Livepress disseminated a video footage showing that journalists are not allowed by strangers to take videos. Geronti Kachilava, editor-in-chief of Livepress, said that journalists were insulted verbally and threatened with reprisals. Kachilava also said that police officers, who were present on the ground, did not react to the incident.

TV Radio Company Odishi incident

Nana Kobalia, head of newsroom of TV Radio Company Odishi, said in a phone conversation with MDF that during the incident outside the Kortskheli polling station, assailants were aggressive towards journalists and prevented them from performing their professional duties. Besides Nana Kobalia, journalist Levan Kalandia and cameraman Zviad Ablotia were also working at the Kortskheli polling station. The cameraman sustained physical injuries after supporters of Georgian Dream threw a bottle of water and stones at him.

Nato Berdzenishvili of the Interior Ministry’s Public Relations Department said that the investigation into the Kortskheli incident was launched under article 125 of the criminal code of Georgia, which deals with the cases of battery or other violence.

Article 125: “1. Battery or other violence that has caused the victim’s physical pain, but has not incurred the consequences provided for by Article 120 of this Code, shall be punished by a fine or community service from 120 to 180 hours or with corrective labor for up to 15 months. 2. The same act committed knowingly against a minor, shall be punished by a fine or corrective labor from 15 to 24 months, or with imprisonment for up to a year.”

When asked by the Media Development Foundation whether the investigation was ongoing under article 154 involving interference with the journalist's professional activities, the Interior Ministry’s representative responded that the investigation was launched under article 125 (Battery), but added that the case may be requalified after conducting an expertise and questioning the witnesses.

According to the Criminal Code of Georgia, interference with the journalist's professional activities is punishable. In particular, according to Article 154, “unlawful interference with the journalist's professional activities, i.e. coercing a journalist into disseminating or not disseminating information, shall be punished by a fine or community service from 120 to 140 hours or with corrective labor for up to two years. The same act committed using threat of violence or official position, shall be punished by a fine or imprisonment for up to two years, with or without the deprivation of the right to hold an official position or to carry out a particular activity for up to three years or without this.”

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Investigation of the Kortskheli incident has been launched under Article 125 (Battery) of the Criminal Code of Georgia. The investigation continues, however preventive measures were used against 6 persons and they were charged under the Article 239 (Hooligamism). According to this article, the action perpetrated by a prior consent of a group which grossly violates public order or demonstrates open contempt toward the public, committed under violence or threat of violence shall be punishable by prison sentences ranging from three to seven years in length.

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Shalva Ramishvili, former host of a talk show “Politics” on Imedi TV, held a press conference on April 22 and accused Giorgi Bakhtadze, the channel’s director general, of interference in his editorial independence and exerting pressure on him. The journalist, who was dismissed on April 5, was referring to the participation of Judge Levan Murusidze in his talk show aired in December 2015 and the issue of selecting respondents for his program. 

To prove his allegations according to which the director general had exerted pressure on him seeking to satisfy Murusidze’s wish and invite those members of the High Council of Justice, who would not have been critical towards Murusidze, Shalva Ramishvili presented Viber messages between him and Giorgi Bakhtadze dated December 17-18, 2015.

On the same day the director general of Imedi TV confirmed the authenticity of the messages but explained that these messages reflected usual editorial work over selection of guests. He cited Ramishvili’s unethical behavior as the reason behind his dismissal.

Shalva Ramishvili applied to the prosecutor’s office demanding to investigate the fact of pressure on him. Chief prosecutor, Irakli Shotadze said that all those persons featuring in Ramishvili’s allegations would be interrogated.  

According to the Criminal Code of Georgia, interference with the journalist's professional activities is punishable. In particular, according to Article 154, “unlawful interference with the journalist's professional activities, i.e. coercing a journalist into disseminating or not disseminating information, shall be punished by a fine or community service from 120 to 140 hours or with corrective labor for up to two years. The same act committed using threat of violence or official position, shall be punished by a fine or imprisonment for up to two years, with or without the deprivation of the right to hold an official position or to carry out a particular activity for up to three years or without this.

The Law of Georgia on Freedom of Speech and Expression also protects editorial independence of journalists.

The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics discussed the issue after Shalva Ramishvili applied to it, and decided that Director General of Imedi TV, Giorgi Bakhtadze violated the second principle of the Charter, according to which “it is unacceptable to coerce a journalist to act or express an opinion against his/her conscience.” At the same time, the Board decided that journalist Shalva Ramishvili violated journalism ethics when preparing the mentioned program and acted dishonestly towards the public.

Imedi TV terminated its contract with Shalva Ramishvili on April 5, 2016 citing the latter’s unethical behavior. In the same period, journalist Tatia Samkharadze from the same TV channel publicly accused Shalva Ramishvili of sexual harassment; to prove her words she provided an audio recording, the authenticity of which was later proved by Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau. Ramishvili denied accusations and demanded the prosecutor’s office to launch an investigation into the case. 

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