Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, alongside Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, attended the opening ceremony of the new building for Georgia’s Public Broadcaster. The broadcaster’s new facility was presented to Kobakhidze by Director General Tinatin Berzenishvili and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Vasil Maghlaperidze.
In his speech, the Prime Minister congratulated the broadcaster’s staff and emphasized the crucial role that the Public Broadcaster continues to play in the country’s media landscape.
“The building is impressive, both in terms of its content and its state-of-the-art infrastructure,” said Kobakhidze, adding that the new facilities, fully equipped with modern technology, will significantly enhance the work of the journalists.
Reflecting on the media environment in previous years, Kobakhidze criticized the former government, saying they controlled both private and public media outlets, including the Public Broadcaster. He noted, however, that the current government has ensured full media independence, with the Public Broadcaster now enjoying the same constitutional protections as private media.
Kobakhidze highlighted the 2017 constitutional reform, which included special provisions for the Public Broadcaster, securing its institutional status and independence from political and commercial pressures.
“This constitutional guarantee is a rare and sophisticated provision,” he remarked, emphasizing the Public Broadcaster’s historic role in Georgian television and radio.
The Prime Minister concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting the Public Broadcaster’s continued independence and development, pledging that the station would remain a vital source of objective information for the Georgian public.
“The government will always ensure that this nearly century-old institution continues to thrive and deliver accurate news,” Kobakhidze stated, wishing the broadcaster’s team success in their professional endeavors.
