After Two Failed Rounds, Irakli Kikvadze Elected as Adjara TV Director

2026-01-29 - 13:53

Irakli Kikvadze has been elected director of Adjara Television and Radio, a publicly funded broadcaster based in coastal Batumi, for a three-year term at a January 29 meeting, following two failed rounds to elect the new head. Seven members of the Public Broadcaster’s Board of Trustees voted in favor of Kikvadze, while one member, Soso Tughushi, voted against his appointment. According to Adjara TV, Kikvadze has served as artistic director of the Batumi Puppet and Youth Professional State Theater and has “extensive experience in television and film.” The director’s post has been vacant since August 2025, when then-director Vladimer Tatishvili, resigned. Public Broadcaster’s board chairman Vasil Maghlaperidze announced the decision at the time, though Tatishvili himself did not elaborate on the reasons for his resignation. Since then, the position has been temporarily filled by First Deputy Director Eka-Elene Shainidze. The competition for