Opposition slams prosecutors’ raid on Mtavari channel as politically motivated

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Georgia has conducted a search of the offices of Mtavari channel and its affiliated sales company, seizing financial documents as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial violations.Georgian opposition parties have condemned the raids as “politically motivated”. 

The raid took place on Thursday and was carried out under a court order, according to a statement published by the television company on social media.

The investigation stems from a complaint filed by Gogi Kurdadze, a director appointed by one of the channel’s co-founders, businessman Zaza Okuashvili. Kurdadze has accused the current management of financial misconduct.

In its response, the channel rejected the allegations, characterising the investigation as politically motivated and part of a broader campaign by the ruling Georgian Dream party to suppress critical media.

“The Prosecutor’s Office has requested the complete seizure of financial documentation. This is a continuation of the politically motivated pressure that started last year,” the channel said, referring to earlier tensions involving Okuashvili, whom it accuses of acting in the interests of pro-Russian forces.

The channel, which has been off air since last year, was once a prominent voice critical of the government. Its former director, Nika Gvaramia, has previously faced prosecution in what international observers and opposition figures have described as politically charged cases.

Levan Sanikidze, a senior member of the opposition United National Movement, condemned the latest development as “classic dictatorship and media harassment,” alleging the government was sending a warning to other independent media outlets.

“This decision by Ivanishvili’s prosecutor’s office confirms that a classic dictatorship has taken root in Georgia,” Sanikidze said, referring to Georgian Dream founder and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.

This serves the additional political persecution of Nika Gvaramia. They want to prolong Nika Gvaramia's stay in prison, said Elene Khoshtaria, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change.

Dimitri Sadzaglishvili, a lawyer representing the channel, accused the prosecutor’s office of acting on political orders, saying the investigation lacked legal merit. “This is not an impartial body. It is simply executing the regime’s will,” he stated.