Opposition: spreading Russian poison is a crime against Georgia, as UK sanctions Imedi and PosTV

Khatia Dekanoidze, one of the leaders of the opposition United National Movement, has said that individuals linked to the sanctioned broadcasters Imedi TV and PosTV “committed a crime against their own citizens and against Georgia by spreading Russian poison,” following the United Kingdom’s decision to impose financial sanctions on the two channels.

“This, of course, would not go unpunished. Now it is clear why Rukhadze fled,” Dekanoidze said, referring to former Imedi owner Irakli Rukhadze, who sold the broadcaster in February 2026 for what official documents describe as a symbolic price of 1,000 lari.

The government of the United Kingdom announced the sanctions on 24 February, the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. London expanded its Russia sanctions list by nearly 300 entities, including the two Georgian broadcasters, citing the dissemination of pro-Russian disinformation related to the war.