Imedi TV owner details strained relationship with former United National Movement Gov’t

Irakli Rukhadze, the owner of Imedi TV, a prominent Georgian television channel, on Wednesday provided testimony regarding the deterioration of relations between the television station and the former United National Movement Government.

In his remarks at a session of the Georgian Parliament’s Temporary Investigative Commission examining alleged crimes committed by the former United National Movement Government between 2003 and 2012, Rukhadze detailed how and when the relationship soured, tracing the origins back to a pivotal moment involving the murder of Sandro Girgvliani.

Girgvliani, the 28-year-old head of the international department of the United Georgian Bank, was killed overnight on January 27-28, 2006. His body was found with multiple injuries indicating massive physical abuse or torture. In July 2006, the four police officers were convicted of inflicting the injuries that resulted in Girgvliani's death. One was sentenced to eight years in prison, while the other three got seven years. Later, their sentences were reduced by half under a presidential pardon and all four were released in September 2009.

Rukhadze explained that security cameras near Badri Patarkatsishvili's home accidentally captured vehicles involved in abducting Girgvliani and his friend. Patarkatsishvili, the then-owner of Imedi TV, possessed recordings showing the car registration plates and other crucial details.

“Badri had recordings showing the car license plates and other evidence. We came under immense pressure not to air this footage on Imedi. Initially, it was phrased as a friendly request - 'just don’t show this and ask us for anything else'. But eventually, those requests turned into threats. I personally received some of this pressure too, as I knew many people in Tbilisi. But Badri made a fundamental decision that this footage must be aired - and we showed it on Imedi TV”, Rukhadze said.

Rukhadze added that following the broadcast, their business group was systematically excluded from winning any government bid.

Rukhadze is testifying before a temporary investigative commission of the Georgian Parliament, addressing allegations of pressure on businesses, suppression of media and freedom of expression, and other human rights violations during the former United National Movement Government.

The central focus of his testimony is the raid on Imedi TV in 2007.

On the evening of November 7, 2007, special forces stormed the premises of Imedi TV, abruptly halting its broadcast. Armed and masked security officers entered the building, forced employees to the ground, and vandalized the station’s equipment.

This operation followed a series of inflammatory statements by high-ranking officials of the time.

The raid was followed by a months-long broadcasting shutdown. The station remained under state control until October 2012, when it was finally returned to the family of its founder, Badri Patarkatsishvili, following the end of Mikheil Saakashvili’s presidency.

The Imedi case remains one of the most emblematic examples cited in discussions of media freedom violations in Georgia.