Former PM, ruling party head Garibashvili sues TV channel for alleged defamation

The family of Irakli Garibashvili, chairman of Georgian Dream ruling party and former prime minister, has filed a defamation lawsuit against the opposition-minded TV Pirveli channel. 

The lawsuit, filed in Tbilisi City Court, demands that the story aired on the Nodar Meladze show, recognized as defamatory. The contested story involved a lease agreement between a company founded by a French investor and Garibashvili Marani LLC.

Amiran Giguashvili, the lawyer representing Garibashvili’s family, informed the media about the lawsuit on Tuesday. 

The lawyer further explained that they were seeking a court declaration that the specific story was defamatory and that the channel must publicly acknowledge this in accordance with the law.

“This entire slander campaign was aimed solely at discrediting Garibashvili and his family”, he said.