Pro-government/Propaganda television station “Imedi”

The pro-government TV channel ‘Imedi’ is discrediting the publication ‘Publika’

Sanctioned by the UK for Russian disinformation, the pro-government TV channel “Imedi” is discrediting the online publication “Publika” and referring to the outlet as a propaganda tool of the “National Movement.”

“Publika” became the target of an attack for its coverage of a rally held by the parents of an inmate outside Rustavi Penitentiary Facility No. 6. On October 2, a protest was held outside the Rustavi prison by the parents of prisoner Giorgi Davitadze, who accuse the penitentiary system of inhumane treatment toward their son. “Publika” was covering this rally and posting photos from the event on social media.

“Imedi” took “Publika’s” photo report, placed it next to a photo of its own showing only a few people at the rally, and wrote: “How the ‘National Movement’ propaganda tool ‘Publika’ covers the rally” and “What is actually happening.”

This is not the first time that government media, alongside “Georgian Dream” officials, has engaged in discrediting independent media.

The publication “Sakartvelos Ambebi” became the target of a cyberattack

“Publika” became the target of an attack for its coverage of a rally held by the parents of an inmate outside Rustavi Penitentiary Facility No. 6. On October 2, a protest was held outside the Rustavi prison by the parents of prisoner Giorgi Davitadze, who accuse the penitentiary system of inhumane treatment toward their son. “Publika” covered this rally and posted photos from the event on social media.

Georgian Dream Officials and Pro-Government Media Renew Their Efforts to Discredit Studio Monitori

An investigative report published by the independent outlet Studio Monitori has been met with discrediting statements from government-affiliated businessman Vano Chkhartishvili. These statements were subsequently amplified by pro-government media in a coordinated campaign.

The backlash centers on a September 25 investigation by Studio Monitori regarding an Estonian businessman who faced ongoing investigations and legal proceedings in Georgia. His properties in Shindisi had been under seizure until a significant portion of the land was purchased by Chkhartishvili, a businessman with close ties to the government. The investigation also highlights an ongoing construction project in Shindisi belonging to the family of Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Following the report’s publication, Chkhartishvili released a letter dismissing the investigation as a “commissioned hit piece” and an attempt to discredit him, claiming it was built on “conspiracies.”

“I hope objective media will take an interest in this issue, ask objective questions, and provide objective analysis, so the public is not left solely with the biased and disinformative content produced by Studio Monitori,” Chkhartishvili stated.

His statement was widely amplified by pro-government broadcasters—Imedi TV, Rustavi 2, and POSTV—which shared it a total of nine times. Specifically, the letter was published five times on Imedi TV’s Facebook page, twice by Rustavi 2, and twice by POSTV.

However, the coordinated attack against Studio Monitori did not stop at simply publishing the statement.

Imedi TV and POSTV dedicated lengthy broadcast segments to targeting the investigation, later circulating edited video excerpts across social media. Media monitoring reveals that Imedi TV, POSTV, and Rustavi 2 produced a total of 14 separate materials directed against the investigative outlet over the course of three days.

In their coverage, Imedi TV labeled Studio Monitori an “organization dependent on foreign grants.” The broadcasts also featured commentary from Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who accused Studio Monitori of acting as a “foreign agent.” Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili further claimed that “Studio Monitori is part of a group that generally acts against Georgia.”

POSTV described Monitori’s investigative work by stating, “They are incapable of reporting on anything good; they prefer fulfilling dirty commissioned tasks,” while branding the investigation “yet another fake.”

This is not the first time the independent investigative team at Studio Monitori has been the target of a coordinated smear campaign orchestrated by high-ranking Georgian Dream officials and their affiliated media.

Imedi TV’s Attempt to Discredit RFERL

Imedi TV has published a post on its Facebook page that seeks to discredit Radio Tavisupleba/RFERL. The post refers to the outlet as “foreign-funded Radio Liberty” and claims that it is attempting to criticize the proposed reform of school uniforms.

The post also mentions Radio Liberty respondent and sexologist Eka Kvirkvelia in a disparaging context, identifying her as the wife of a person connected to the “Kamiti” case.

The framing used in Imedi’s post reflects a broader narrative promoted by pro-government media, in which critical and independent outlets are portrayed primarily through their sources of foreign funding. Such messaging serves to delegitimize their editorial work and undermine their credibility.

The blocking of ‘Monitor’s’ YouTube was followed by a media discreditation campaign

On August 3, 2026, the blocking of the investigative media outlet “Monitor’s” YouTube channel was followed by a media discreditation campaign from members of “Georgian Dream” and pro-government media.

“Facebook has deleted Studio Monitor’s propagandist page” – with this caption, the pro-government TV channel “Imedi,” which was sanctioned by the UK for spreading Russian disinformation, published a card on social media.

“Georgian Dream” MP Nino Tsilosani shared “Imedi’s” card on her page and deemed the blocking of “Monitor” to be “fair behavior”:

“Unfortunately, for years, ‘Studio Monitor’ has portrayed itself as independent media, while in reality, it is primarily a spreader of lies and political manipulation… Whoever chooses lies and manipulation over facts gives society the greatest grounds to question their credibility. This time, Facebook itself provided the answer to these questions – ‘Studio Monitor’s’ page has been deleted from the social network,” wrote Nino Tsilosani, about whom “Monitor” has also produced an investigative report.

Nino Tsilosani’s post was then picked up and turned into a news story by “Imedinews.” Additionally, this exact same status was disseminated unchanged as news by the pro-government TV channel “POSTV”—which was sanctioned alongside “Imedi”—and the pro-government “Rustavi 2.”

Sanctioned for Spreading Russian Disinformation Regarding the Full-Scale War in Ukraine, TV Imedi Attempts to Discredit Guram Rogava

On May 10, 2026, the television network Imedi, which has been sanctioned by the United Kingdom for spreading disinformation, published a discrediting post against journalist Guram Rogava. TV Imedi refers to Guram Rogava as a “propagandist for the National Movement.”

On November 29, 2024, while performing his professional duties and covering pro-European protests, a riot police officer assaulted Guram Rogava, striking him forcefully on the back of the head.

UK-Sanctioned Imedi TV Accuses Critical Outlet TV Pirveli of Manipulation

On April 24, TV Imedi a broadcaster sanctioned by the United Kingdom for spreading Russian disinformation published a social media post accusing the critical news outlet TV Pirveli of manipulation. The post concerns a report by TV Pirveli claiming that 60% of those granted Georgian citizenship in 2025 were Russian citizens.

TV Imedi writes that “beyond the statistical figure intended to mislead the public, the opposition media says nothing about the fact that restoration, retention, or the granting of citizenship by way of exception can be requested by former Georgian citizens or citizens who have either already lost or have not yet lost their Georgian citizenship after acquiring the citizenship of another country.”

The post features a photo of Nodar Meladze, the head of TV Pirveli’s news service, with the word “Manipulation” stamped across it in red. TV Imedi frequently publishes posts targeting the critical broadcaster TV Pirveli and its news director, Nodar Meladze.

“TV Pirveli” Exposes Pro-Government “Imedi” for Spreading Disinformation

“TV Pirveli” states that on April 16, during the news program “Qronika,” the TV company “Imedi” disseminated false information regarding TV Pirveli.

According to the broadcaster, the report claiming that an individual named Blažević instructed “TV Pirveli” to spread information about expected personnel changes within the “Georgian Dream” government is untrue. “TV Pirveli” notes that this information is “a lie and disinformation” and is not based on factual circumstances.

The TV station further states that while preparing the material, the “Imedi” journalist did not contact the channel for a retaliatory comment, which they believe constitutes a violation of the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting. “TV Pirveli” demands an end to the spread of disinformation and the full coverage of its position during the same news broadcast. Additionally, the broadcaster calls on the National Communications Commission to respond to the incident immediately. In the channel’s assessment, the dissemination of such fake news serves as an attempt to discredit independent media.

Pro-Government Channels “Imedi,” “Rustavi 2,” and “POSTV” Discredit and Stigmatize Independent Online Media

Pro-government television stations—Imedi, Rustavi 2, and POSTV—are labeling independent online publications Netgazeti, Publika, and On.ge as anti-Georgian media, discrediting and stigmatizing them because these outlets refer to high-ranking officials as the “Georgian Dream” Prime Minister and Minister.

All three channels published nearly identical text on social media, accompanied by a short screenshot of a text prepared by these online media outlets regarding the visit of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Georgia.

“So-called online media outlets funded by foreign countries refer to Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister, while referring to Irakli Kobakhidze and Maka Bochorishvili as the ‘Georgian Dream’ Prime Minister and Minister,” states Rustavi 2, referring to the online outlets as “so-called” media. POSTV also places the term online media in quotation marks: “The anti-Georgian policy of ‘online media’ funded from abroad: publications refer to Nikol Pashinyan as the Prime Minister of Armenia, while referring to the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Georgia as the ‘Georgian Dream’ Prime Minister and Minister.” Imedi goes even further, calling these publications tools of hybrid warfare: “Another anti-Georgian act by the anti-Georgian online ‘media’ in Georgia—all three tools of hybrid warfare refer to Nikol Pashinyan as the Armenian Prime Minister, while referring to Irakli Kobakhidze and Maka Bochorishvili as the ‘Georgian Dream’ Prime Minister and Minister.”

Notably, all three channels published this visual material almost simultaneously on the same day that “Georgian Dream” passed the law in its third and final reading, which made the “systemic non-recognition of Georgian Dream” a criminal offense.

Pro–“Georgian Dream” TV Company “Imedi” Attempts to Discredit “TV Pirveli” and Nodar Meladze

On January 28, a post was published on the Facebook page of the pro–“Georgian Dream” TV company Imedi, showing a photo that included TV Pirveli journalist and producer Nodar Meladze alongside the Executive Director of Transparency International Georgia. Imedi accused TV Pirveli of spreading false propaganda and called it a “propaganda tool.”

Like POSTV, Imedi is actively involved in promoting narratives created by Georgian Dream to discredit independent media, both on television broadcasts and on social media accounts.