Mtavari Arkhi on the Brink of Closure Amid Allegations of Political Collusion
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, December 12, 2024
The future of Georgia's independent television channel Mtavari Arkhi is in jeopardy, as founder Zaza Okuashvili has reportedly decided to shut it down, according to the channel's General Director, Giorgi Gabunia. The announcement comes with sharp allegations of political maneuvering and financial sabotage, with Gabunia claiming the move aligns with the interests of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Gabunia accused Okuashvili of acting deliberately to incapacitate Mtavari Arkhi. Central to these claims is Gogi Kurdadze, who was appointed as the channel's director by Okuashvili several months ago. Gabunia described Kurdadze as an "obedient executor" of Okuashvili's tasks, with no expertise in media management or engagement with the channel's operations.
"The sole purpose of his appointment was to give Okuashvili effective leverage over the channel to achieve personal goals," Gabunia said, accusing Kurdadze of neglecting the staff and refusing to approve essential financial transactions. Among the alleged disruptions, Kurdadze reportedly stopped health insurance for employees, a critical resource in a climate where journalists and cameramen face systematic violence and harassment.
Gabunia alleged that these actions are part of a deliberate effort to block the channel's operations, leading to terminated contracts and an inevitable shutdown. "This is exactly what Bidzina Ivanishvili needs today," he asserted.
The controversy extends beyond financial mismanagement. Gabunia hinted at potential political collusion between Okuashvili and Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream party. He suggested that Okuashvili might be using the channel as leverage in his ongoing legal disputes with Ivanishvili.
"There is reasonable suspicion that Okuashvili is doing this by negotiating or trading with the illegitimate government," Gabunia said, recalling past instances where Okuashvili's family members supported Georgian Dream initiatives. Specifically, he referenced votes cast by Nato and Rostom Chkheidze, relatives of Okuashvili, in favor of Georgian Dream's judicial council nominees at a critical parliamentary juncture.
Gabunia vowed to continue broadcasting for as long as possible, emphasizing the channel's commitment to its viewers and its role as a counterweight to government narratives. "We did not fight so hard to see the channel handed over to Bidzina Ivanishvili, even indirectly. As far as we can, we will fight and remain on the air for the Georgian people," he said.
