Legal incident

Communications Commission Fines TV Company “Formula” 2,500 GEL

The Georgian Communications Commission found TV Company “Formula” in violation of the Law of Georgia “On Broadcasting” and imposed a fine of 2,500 GEL as a sanction.

The Commission initiated the proceedings based on its own media monitoring conducted during the month of April. The Communications Commission determined that “Formula” violated newly introduced articles of the broadcasting law that regulate content-related issues specifically, Paragraphs 1, 4, and 5 of Article 54. The Commission fined “Formula” for using phrases in its news programs such as “the head of the Georgian Dream government,” “Ivanishvili’s regime,” “the regime’s prosecutor’s office,” “the Dream’s prime minister,” and other similar terms. Additionally, it deemed the broadcast of a report about children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy without a comment from the Ministry of Health as problematic, ruling it a violation of the requirement to maintain balance.

“Given that TV Company ‘Formula’ had already received a written warning for a similar violation within the past year, the Communications Commission imposed the minimum fine of 2,500 GEL on the broadcaster in accordance with the Law of Georgia ‘On Broadcasting,'” reads the statement from the Communications Commission. “Formula,” alongside other television networks, received the initial written warning on April 8. In that instance as well, the Commission raised identical issues against the channel.

“The attempt to normalize censorship and interfere in editorial affairs is evident,” stated the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics in its assessment of the incident, expressing deep concern over this growing trend.

TV Company “Trialeti” Assesses Public Registry Decision as a Risk of Disrupting Company Operations

TV Company “Trialeti” states that the Public Registry has suspended the registration of the company’s updated charter. According to the channel, this decision gives a single minority partner the leverage to disrupt the company’s operations.

The dispute centers around a demand from “Accept” LLC. The company is requesting that decisions on significant matters, including the transfer of shares, be made only with the unanimous consent of all partners, rather than by a majority vote.

Currently, the shares of “Trialeti” are distributed as follows:

Jondo Nanetashvili: 50%
Nino Gagnidze: 40%
“Accept” LLC: 10%

Under the existing charter, a three-quarters (3/4) majority is sufficient to pass certain decisions—a rule that “Accept” currently opposes.

According to the channel, an attempt was made to adopt the updated charter during a partners’ meeting on May 7, 2026. However, the representative of “Accept” refused to sign the meeting minutes. Despite this, the charter was submitted to the Public Registry the following day. The Registry subsequently suspended the registration, arguing that the updated charter did not reflect a position agreed upon by “Accept”.

“Trialeti” argues that the Public Registry misinterpreted the law, thereby granting a single partner the power to stall the company’s registration and business activities. The channel has already appealed to the Prosecutor’s Office regarding the issue.

Furthermore, “Trialeti” points to specific circumstances involving “Accept” LLC. According to a 2015 report by Transparency International Georgia, Kakha Kobiashvili who is connected to the company is a relative of Bidzina Ivanishvili and has figured as the legal representative for several offshore companies.

TV Formula Journalist Eliso Jariashvili Summoned to Prosecutor’s Office for Questioning

The Prosecutor’s Office has summoned Eliso Jariashvili, a journalist and TV host for the television network Formula, for questioning. As the journalist explained, the investigative agency requested her questioning following a report she aired on Formula. Specifically, Jariashvili had prepared an investigative report regarding an assault on journalist Guram Rogava, which took place during the mass protests in November 2024. As it is known, Formula reportedly uncovered the identity of the attacker. According to the online publication Netgazeti, the network states that the identity of Guram Rogava’s attacker was revealed by an employee of the Special Tasks Department.

According to Eliso Jariashvili: “Even though there is no legal necessity for this – since they already know the identity of Guram Rogava’s alleged attacker and can proceed with investigative actions anyway” – she still intends to go to the investigative agency.

On November 29, 2024, a masked law enforcement officer assaulted journalist Guram Rogava during a live broadcast. Rogava was officially recognized as a victim in 2024, yet the investigation failed to identify the attacker.

Following the airing of Formula’s report, Tbilisi District Court Judge Valerian Bugianishvili ordered pretrial detention as a preventative measure for three former employees of the Special Tasks Department. They were arrested in connection with the physical assault against journalist Guram Rogava and protester Zviad Maisashvili. One of the detainees is a current employee of the Security Police. They are being charged with physical violence committed against Rogava and protester Zviad Maisashvili.

Journalist Guram Rogava Summoned to Prosecutor’s Office for Questioning

On May 6, journalist Guram Rogava was summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office for questioning.

“Tomorrow, at 12:00 PM Tbilisi time, I will be questioned,” Guram Rogava wrote on social media.

The Prosecutor’s Office also summoned Eliso Jariashvili, a journalist and TV host for the television network Formula, for questioning. As the journalist explained, the investigative agency requested her questioning following a report she aired on Formula. Specifically, Jariashvili had prepared an investigative report regarding the assault on journalist Guram Rogava, which took place during the mass protests in November 2024. Formula reportedly uncovered the identity of the attacker. According to the online publication Netgazeti, the network states that the identity of Rogava’s attacker was revealed by an employee of the Special Tasks Department.

On November 29, 2024, a masked law enforcement officer assaulted Guram Rogava while he was covering the protest live on air.

Guram Rogava was officially recognized as a victim shortly after, yet the investigation failed to identify the attacker.

Following the airing of Formula’s report, Tbilisi District Court Judge Valerian Bugianishvili ordered pretrial detention as a preventative measure for three former employees of the Special Tasks Department. One of the detainees is a current employee of the Security Police. They are being charged with physical violence committed against Rogava and protester Zviad Maisashvili.

Tbilisi City Court Dismisses Lawsuit of Dismissed Public Broadcaster Journalist Nino Zautashvili

Tbilisi City Court Judge Ekaterine Eliadze dismissed the lawsuit filed by Nino Zautashvili, a dismissed journalist and host, against the Public Broadcaster.

According to Zautashvili’s lawyer, Giorgi Iasashvili, they were seeking the annulment of the dismissal order and her reinstatement to the corresponding position.

“I know that I will see this case through to the end, and I will spare neither time nor energy for it. I know for a fact that I am right, and the judge also knew that the truth was on my side. In these terribly difficult times, when so many unjust decisions have been made, the single most important task remains ensuring the institutional independence of the judiciary,” Nino Zautashvili told Media Checker.

The Tbilisi City Court also dismissed the lawsuit of former Moambe anchor Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, who sought the annulment of his dismissal order from the Public Broadcaster. This decision was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeals.

The Public Broadcaster dismissed Nino Zautashvili, the host of the program Real Space, along with Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani on April 11, 2025.

Court Dismisses Mzia Amaghlobeli’s Lawsuit Against Irakli Kobakhidze

On April 24, Tbilisi City Court Judge Liana Kazhashvili dismissed the case filed by Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of Batumelebi/Netgazeti, against Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. Amaghlobeli, who is currently in custody, alleged that Kobakhidze’s televised statements constituted defamation, violated the presumption of innocence, and damaged her honor and dignity.

“This is a dangerous precedent, not only for Mzia Amaghlobeli as the plaintiff in this case but for the justice system in general,” the journalist’s lawyer, Ana Rekhviashvili, told the media.

Neither Irakli Kobakhidze nor his legal representative appeared in court.

This marks the second time the Tbilisi City Court has reached such a decision. On November 24, 2025, Judge Davit Akobidze also ruled to dismiss a case in which Mzia Amaghlobeli sought a retraction of false allegations from Irakli Kobakhidze.

The judge did not uphold the complaint filed by the employees of ‘Real Space,’ a program canceled by the Georgian Public Broadcaster

On April 20, Judge Liana Kazhashvili announced a decision in which the court denied the complaint filed by former employees of “Real Space.”

The program “Real Space” aired on the Public Broadcaster until May 5, 2025, when the channel’s management decided to cancel the show. The “Real Space” staff subsequently sued the Public Broadcaster’s management. The decision announced on April 20 concerned the dismissal of Ketevan Kapanadze, Ioseb Katsitadze, Tamar Mshvenieradze, Omar Tsotsoria, and Tukha Kvinikadze. They are seeking the annulment of their dismissal orders and reinstatement to their respective positions at “Real Space” under the terms of their permanent employment contracts dated December 30, 2022.

Since November 2024, following the start of pro-European protests, demonstrators have been demanding open access to the airwaves. Employees of the Public Broadcaster joined this demand, and the “Real Space” team also openly criticized the channel’s editorial policy.

On April 11, 2025, the Public Broadcaster dismissed “Real Space” host Nino Zautashvili and “Moambe” anchor Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani. On May 1, “Real Space” was officially closed, and the contracts of team members who declined new offers were terminated.

Tbilisi City Court Rules Against Ousted Public Broadcaster Journalist Nino Zautashvili

Tbilisi City Court Judge Ekaterine Eliadze has dismissed the lawsuit filed against the Public Broadcaster by Nino Zautashvili, a journalist and presenter who was fired from the channel.

According to Zautashvili’s lawyer, Giorgi Iasashvili, they were seeking to have the dismissal order annulled and for her to be reinstated to her position.

“I know I will see this case through to the end, and I won’t begrudge the time or energy it takes. I know for a fact that I am right, and the judge knew the truth was on my side as well. In these incredibly difficult times, when so many unjust decisions have been made, the primary and most vital task remains ensuring the institutional independence of the judiciary,” Nino Zautashvili told Mediachecker.

The Tbilisi City Court also dismissed a lawsuit filed by Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, a former presenter for the news program Moambe, who was also seeking to overturn his dismissal from the Public Broadcaster. This decision was later upheld by the Court of Appeals.

The Public Broadcaster dismissed Nino Zautashvili, the host of the program Real Space, along with Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, on April 11, 2025.

Journalists’ Accounts Frozen Without Prior Notice of Fines

On April 15, according to TV Pirveli, the bank accounts of Maka Chikhladze, a journalist for the channel’s Saturday broadcast, were frozen. On social media, Irakli Datunashvili (known online as Leo Nafta), the Georgia editor for the online publication JamNews, also wrote that his bank accounts had been frozen. According to his information, the basis for the freeze is cited as a fine from October 15, the existence of which he had not been informed of until now.

According to Nodar Meladze, head of the news service, Maka Chikhladze was covering ongoing events on Rustaveli Avenue in the line of professional duty on October 15, 2025, which led to her being fined 5,000 GEL on charges of “artificially blocking the road.” He stated that the journalist was not notified of this fine and subsequently had her accounts frozen.

Maka Chikhladze herself states that she only learned about the existence of the fine after her accounts were frozen.

“In such a large agency as the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they couldn’t find the resources to send me a single SMS… if they had simply notified me that I had been fined, I would have looked into it and proven that I was performing my professional duties. I didn’t know about it until my accounts were frozen,” Chikhladze said.

In her assessment, the case may be related to her journalistic activities. “I believe this is an act of revenge and has nothing to do with the law on assembly and manifestation or any actual violation,” she noted. Chikhladze also points out that representatives of other media outlets were also working at the scene, yet she was the only one targeted with a fine.

On December 7, 2024, on Besiki Street in Tbilisi, TV Pirveli journalist Maka Chikhladze and cameraman Giorgi Shetsiruli were attacked and physically assaulted by unidentified masked individuals while working on a live broadcast. The investigation launched into that incident has not yet been concluded.

TV Formula Journalist Liza Tsitsishvili’s Accounts Frozen

The bank accounts of TV Formula journalist Liza Tsitsishvili have been frozen. According to the journalist, it was discovered that she had been fined 5,000 GEL on the grounds of “artificially blocking the road” while performing her professional duties on Rustaveli Avenue on September 10, 2025.

The journalist had not received any notice regarding the fine. Furthermore, she states that since September, she has been detained once and has even crossed the national border, yet in neither instance was she informed that she had been fined.

According to publicly available information, more than 40 fines have been issued against journalists for “artificially blocking the road” between October 26, 2024, and the present day.