Ruling party MP calls UK sanctions on Imedi, POSTV ‘shameless’

Davit Matikashvili, a ruling party MP and head of the Parliamentary Procedural Issues Committee, condemned the United Kingdom’s sanctions on Georgian TV channels Imedi and POSTV as “shameless” and “absurd.”

He on Thursday criticized the claim that the channels destabilized Ukraine, calling it “ridiculous” and contrasting it with the UK’s tolerance of Russian energy pipelines supplying Europe.

“The goal is to silence free speech in Georgia, but the Georgian people will not allow Imedi to be destroyed,” Matikashvili said.

The MP noted past attacks on Imedi during previous political crises and said current sanctions will instead strengthen public support for the channels. 

He confirmed that the British ambassador has been summoned to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for explanations.