On July 25, 2025, it was announced that the Public Broadcaster’s Channel One would close the program “This Weekend.” The channel’s management offered the program’s team producers, journalists, and hosts positions in other programs. Otherwise, they were informed that their cooperation with the channel would end.

The employees affected are: executive producers Tamar Chincharauli and Mariam Firtshalava, producer Nia Barabadze, journalist Ana Abakelia, and hosts Lika Evgenidze and Giorgi Sharvashidze.

In a letter sent by the broadcaster’s director, Tina Berdzenishvili, to the program team, it was stated that the program’s contract would expire on August 1 and would not be renewed, as the broadcaster no longer required the program: “From the new television season, the refreshed midday schedule will be dedicated to a new project covering every day of the week. Accordingly, there is no longer a need for a separate program solely for the weekend.”

All six employees declined to move to other programs. As a result, they were dismissed from their positions on August 1. All six journalists are part of the “Guardians of the Public Broadcaster” and have been criticizing the broadcaster’s biased editorial policy for eight months.

On the same day, it was also announced that Channel One had closed journalist Ia Antadze’s project “Interesting People.” “Of course, this decision was not unexpected, as I see it as a natural consequence of my choices and responsibilities,” Antadze wrote on social media.

The dismissal or disciplining of employees critical of the channel’s editorial policy began at the Public Broadcaster alongside the pro-European protests. To date, through disciplinary proceedings, 13 employees have been either dismissed or subjected to disciplinary sanctions.