Georgian Dream Backs UK-Sanctioned Channels Amid Uncertainty Over Impact

2026-02-25 - 13:05

Georgian Dream leaders, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, have expressed support for Imedi TV and POSTV, the two major pro-government channels sanctioned by the United Kingdom on February 24 over “Russian disinformation,” as uncertainty persists over what specific effects the sanctions may have on the broadcasters. Calling the UK’s decision to sanction the two channels “unserious,” “shameful,” and “tragic,” Georgian Dream PM Irakli Kobakhidze pledged that the press freedoms of journalists at Imedi and POSTV would be “protected,” saying the GD government will take “full responsibility.” “No journalist at any [sanctioned] TV company will face worse conditions,” Kobakhidze told reporters on February 25. “On the contrary, they will have full opportunity to exercise their fundamental right to press freedom and provide information to the public,” he added, stressing that the government “is fully responsible for press freedom.” Describing the reactions triggered by the sanctions announcement as “empty hype,” PM Kobakhidze reiterated that “every necessary action will be taken to ensure that Imedi and POSTV in Georgia do not face any violations of their journalists’ fundamental press freedoms.” “All state and nonstate companies should naturally continue cooperating with both [TV] companies,” Kobakhidze further said. The UK sanctioned the two channels for spreading “deliberately misleading information” about Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine that “destabilizes” Ukraine or “undermines or threatens” the country’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, or independence. According to the sanctions notice, the measures include an asset freeze, trust services sanctions, and director disqualification sanctions. The entities subject to asset freezes are restricted from accessing “funds and economic resources,” per the UK Financial Sanctions General Guidance. According to the guidance, “the trust services measure limits the ability of persons designated for the purpose of this measure, and persons connected with Russia, from accessing the U.K.’s trust services,” while director disqualification sanctions “ban directly or indirectly” those under them from “being a director of a UK company, being a director of a foreign company that has sufficient connection to the UK, even if it is not registered there.” Local experts have suggested what the UK sanctions may mean in practical terms for the two channels. Roman Gotsiridze, former president of the National Bank of Georgia, believes the sanctions will lead to an “inability” for the channels to attract advertising revenue, pay salaries, make foreign transactions, or use any bank that relies on Visa and Mastercard services. Shota Dighmelashvili, editor of Georgian Forbes, said the sanctions mainly target “UK persons,” but he predicted the effects could still be far-reaching. According to him, that includes Bank of Georgia and TBC Bank, the country’s two largest commercial banks, which must comply as they are listed on the London Stock Exchange. Other banks may still avoid dealing with the sanctioned entities for fear of indirect consequences, including through intermediary international banks, he further suggested. Meanwhile, Imedi said the UK sanctions “hold no value” and that it “will continue to serve Georgia and the freedom of speech even more energetically to fully justify the trust placed in us by the Georgian public.” Nearly three weeks before the sanctions were announced, Imedi TV owner Irakli Rukhadze gave up his shares. POSTV’s dominant shareholder, GD spinoff People’s Power MP Viktor Japaridze, had similarly stopped being listed as a manager of his stakes, though he continues to own 52%. Imedi TV and POSTV ranked first and third, respectively, in advertising revenue in 2025, amid what many describe as a significant gap between pro-government and critical channels. Imedi TV alone received GEL 45 million (about usd 17 million) in ad revenue, roughly 45% of the total revenue for TV channels. Meanwhile, several reports said the pro-government channels, especially Imedi TV, are carrying large debts, allegedly covered through preferential loans from companies linked to the ruling Georgian Dream party and its founder and billionaire honorary chairman, Bidzina Ivanishvili.