TV Imedi Owner Responds to Allegations in Anonymous Letter Sent to U.S. Chief Prosecutor
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
During a broadcast, Radio Liberty host Nastasia Arabuli asked Irakli Rukhadze, the owner of TV Imedi, whether he was aware of an anonymous letter that was reportedly sent to future US Attorney General Pam Bondi. The letter, dated January 15, 2025, was said to urge Bondi to investigate Rukhadze's business activities, labeling them as fraudulent. The letter also noted Rukhadze's status as a US citizen, implying he held greater responsibility for his dealings with individuals sanctioned by the US Treasury.
Arabuli stated, "We have the second anonymous letter, dated January 15th, to future US Attorney General Pamela, aka Penn Bond. This letter was sent on the day of her congressional hearing. In the letter we have seen, Pamela Bondi is asked to investigate your business activities, which are referred to as fraudulent, and it states that you are a US citizen and therefore have a much greater responsibility in dealing with persons sanctioned by the US Treasury. Did you know that such a letter existed?"
In response, Rukhadze said he was unaware of the letter, but he expressed confidence in knowing who might have written it. He explained, "I didn't know [about the letter], but I'm sure I know who wrote it, because they threatened me. I can't name them because I can't say 100%, but they threatened me about 2 days before to write someone. We were arguing about it, and I said I can have my own opinion. They said you are a US citizen, and they are also a citizen of the USA, and said that 'you are going against your country', 'you are going against the USA.' I told them that what I am talking about is my opinion. They said they would write a letter to the prosecutor. I don't know if they wrote or not, otherwise, I would have told you his name."
Arabuli then asked Rukhadze about the letter's accusation that TV Imedi "regularly broadcasts the propaganda of Ivanishvili's regime with insulting topics of our country" and blames the United States for the world's problems. She inquired, "Does this reflect the activities of Imedi?"
Rukhadze denied the allegations, responding, "It doesn't." He also made a point of expressing his affinity for the US and Europe, stating, "I love America very much, I love Europe very much, and no one can profit more from Georgia joining the European Union more than me."
According to a source from Radio Liberty, a letter was sent to the future U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio by Congress, alleging that Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, engaged in "authoritarian rule", "falsification of elections", and shifted towards the "axis of aggression" with China, Russia, and Iran. The letter expresses concerns about Georgia's political alignment and its relationship with Western powers.
