Imedi TV owner testifies before parliamentary inquiry on media suppression, business pressure under former UNM Gov’t

The Interim Fact-Finding Commission on the Activities of the Regime, the Political Leaders of the Regime of 2003-2012 and the Activity of the Incumbent and Former Officials in the Political Unions since 2003 up to today on Wednesday heard the accounts provided by the owner of the TV Company Imedi Irakli Rukhadze about the pressure on business, violation of the freedom of media and expression, and other facts of gross violation of human rights.

As Irakli Rukhadze noted, the initial confrontation between Imedi TV and the National Movement authorities occurred in 2006 following the murder of Sandro Girgvliani. Surveillance cameras at the residence of Badri Patarkatsishvili recorded and detected the vehicles transporting Sandro Girgvliani and his friend to the Okrokana Cemetery.

“We were subjected to intense pressure to refrain from broadcasting the video footage on ‘Imedi’. Initially, they started with friendly conversations, appealing to us to refrain from disclosing the material in exchange for our desires. However, this was followed by threats and intimidation”, he noted.

According to him, following these events, his business group lost every tender called. However, the situation changed for a while after the meeting of Badri Patarkatsishvili and Mikheil Saakashvili in London.

Badri Patarkatsishvili was also experiencing significant pressure. At some point, he made a decision to give Imedi TV in exchange for the railway. However, the deal failed, and confrontations were subsequently resumed.

As the reporter noted, the morning of November 7, 2007, commenced with the disruption of Mtatsminda Park by the special task forces concurrently with the raid of the Revenue Service on the “Borjomi” and “Telenet” companies, and the National Bank and special task forces on the “Standard Bank”.

Same evening, the television company Imedi was also occupied by special task forces, who destroyed the equipment and physically assaulted the employees, including a pregnant woman.

“We were expelled from “Imedi” and I was detained. It was the period when many Georgian citizens were taking refuge from the country because of their persecution in criminal cases. I was confident that my arrest was impossible since I was an American citizen, assured it to be my shield and it indeed was”, Rukhadze continued.

As he underscored, within a brief span, Imedi TV underwent several changes in ownership, with the intervention of the National Movement authorities solely aimed at curtailing freedom of speech.

“In pursuit of the objective of establishing absolute illegitimacy, the initial step to be taken is to restrict freedom of speech. This was because Saakashvili was aware that he could not accomplish his plans without suppressing free media. Without ceasing the operations of “Imedi,” Saakashvili would never attain his objectives, such as those set for August 2008 and May 26. The government can only go beyond frames only through total control of the media”, he asserted.

According to the provided information, on December 18, 2007, following the restoration of “Imedi” to its owner for the first time, the authorities implemented a change in their approach and successfully undermined Imedi TV from within. This occurred specifically after the broadcast of a fabricated conversation between Erekle Kodua and Badri Patarkatsishvili on Rustavi 2. Consequently, some employees of Imedi TV engaged in a riot, leading the news group to cease operations and effectively closing down the company.

“If someone inquires about my opinion about the cause of Badri Patarkatsishvili’s demise, it was this very fact, and subsequently, his refusal to engage in conversation or social interactions. This, coupled with an uncontrollable smoking habit, led to severe heart pains despite his refusal to seek medical attention. Consequently, he passed away in 2008”, he said.

As he noted, after the death of Badri Patarkatsishvili, the authorities intensified pressure to appropriate the remaining assets.

“In the summer of 2008, shortly after the passing of Badri Patarkatsishvili, I was summoned to meet Gigi Ugulava. However, upon my arrival, I was instead met by David Kezerashvili. During the meeting, David Kezerashvili expressed his desire for the widow of Badri Patarkatsishvili to cease fighting and proposed that I give my company “Borjomi to his friend at the amount of 15 ml USD”, Rukhadze noted.

According to him, his refusal to give away Borjomi was followed by the explosion of his car the next day.

As the reporter elucidated, he was never surprised to hear the National Movement authorities and political leaders speaking about the appropriation of his business.

“The then Defence Minister was actively involved in business ventures, even operating his own business. The positions in Saakashvili’s Government held no significance, as there was Giga Bokeria, a deputy to a deputy but with the authority to address any matter, such as whether to broadcast the video footage of Girgvliani’s murder”, Rukhadze continued.

As Rukhadze noted, in 2011, his cousins and friends were detained due to his involvement, resulting in a financial burden of 8 ml USD for their release.

Furthermore, the individuals involved in the dispersal and subsequent closure of Imedi during the preceding government and who are currently occupying positions in politics and non-governmental organisations, continue to attempt to shut down Imedi TV employing various methods.

Imedi is a Dutch company and these people attempt to make the Dutch Government close this company with the alleged accusations of anti-European approaches, which is absolutely “insane”. It was the purpose of printing an article in the Netherlands based on the letter sent by Transparency International.

The Chair of the Commission Tea Tsulukiani addressed Rukhadze to provide the aforementioned letter.

“The vermins, who were once part of the then-Government, but are now opposing the incumbent authorities, continue to attempt to shut down Imedi. Their current activities are being investigated by our Commission. Their past and present actions will serve as the foundation and basis for the Parliament to effectively defend the claims in the Constitutional Court to prevent these individuals from returning to politics”, she asserted.