Georgian PM Credits Bidzina Ivanishvili with Media Pluralism, Rejects Press Freedom Report

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has credited Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili with establishing media pluralism in Georgia, rejecting criticism from international press freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and describing its assessment as disgraceful.

Speaking to Georgian journalists in Brussels, Kobakhidze was asked about a report published by RSF concerning the country’s media environment and Ivanishvili’s influence over the sector.

The Prime Minister dismissed the organisation’s findings, arguing that Georgia’s media landscape underwent a fundamental democratic transformation following the change of government in 2012.

“You know what was happening in our country before 2012. The entire television sector was monopolised, and in a particularly abusive manner,” Kobakhidze said.

He accused the previous government of taking control of major television broadcasters, including Rustavi 2 and Imedi, and of exerting influence over the Georgian Public Broadcaster.

“You know how Rustavi 2 was taken away from its rightful owner, how Imedi was taken away from its rightful owner, and how they seized control of the Public Broadcaster. Every nationwide television station was controlled by a single political force and monopolised by the regime of that time,” he said.

Kobakhidze maintained that the political transition of 2012 dismantled that system and created the conditions for a more diverse media environment.

“In 2012, the Georgian media was freed from the monopolistic system. The media pluralism we have established today is the achievement of Bidzina Ivanishvili and the democratic transformation he brought about,” the Prime Minister said.

He also sharply criticised RSF representatives over their assessment of the Georgian media landscape.

“When representatives of a particular organisation make such statements, society has its own assessment of their actions,” Kobakhidze said, describing the report as disgraceful in every respect.