Prepared by Messenger Staff
Euronews Georgia to End Domestic Coverage, Citing Financial Challenges
Euronews Georgia, the local franchise of the international news network, has announced that it will cease reporting on domestic developments and instead focus solely on international news, citing financial constraints and the cost of maintaining its franchise agreement.
The channel began broadcasting in 2020 after Georgian communications company Silknet signed a franchise deal with France-based Euronews in 2019. Since then, Euronews Georgia has offered viewers a mix of local and international reporting, covering topics such as political developments, relations between Georgia and the European Union, and ongoing protests across the country.
In a statement published on its Facebook page on January 9, the broadcaster announced that an internal financial review had revealed its current model was no longer sustainable. "An analysis of the financial situation revealed that, given current trends in Georgia's television advertising market, the existing broadcasting model cannot generate enough revenue to cover operational expenses and meet financial obligations under the franchise agreement with Euronews SA," the statement said.
As a result, the channel said it will adopt a new format centered on international coverage. According to the statement, Euronews Georgia will now focus on "up-to-date, high-quality international content from Euronews, adapted for the Georgian audience."
Defense Challenges Prosecution Claims in Burchuladze Case, Says Ministry Costs Were Necessary
Lawyer Dimitri Khachidze said all expenses incurred by the Defense Ministry were justified, speaking after a court hearing in the case against former Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze.
"All witnesses confirmed that the expenses incurred by the Defense Ministry were necessary," Khachidze told reporters.
He said the contract covered not only the price of the medical equipment but also its delivery, installation, room preparation, and related operational costs. According to Khachidze, witnesses explained that the equipment required multiple stages of setup, making comparisons based only on its base price misleading.
Khachidze added that witnesses presented by the prosecution effectively supported the defense's position, confirming that the ministry's spending complied with contractual terms.
Prosecutors allege that in 2023, Burchuladze abused his position by orchestrating the purchase of a medical device for a military hospital at an inflated price, causing a loss of 1,333,728 GEL to the Defense Ministry. They say the device was sold for 3,940,000 GEL instead of its actual value of 2,606,272 GEL.
In a separate investigation, prosecutors claim that in March 2025, Burchuladze and his spouse purchased property in Spain for Euro544,000 and later used a fictitious real estate transaction in Daba Tskneti to conceal the origin of the funds.
