Parliamentary inquiry: UNM’s rule marked by groundless curbs on media freedom

Thea Tsulukiani, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament and Chair of the Parliament’s Temporary Investigative Commission examining crimes committed by the former United National Movement Government between 2003 and 2012, on Tuesday revealed that the United National Movement regime, led by the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili, began suppressing media freedom immediately after seizing power following the 2003 Rose Revolution.

Presenting the Commission’s findings, Tsulukiani highlighted a stark contrast between the diverse and responsive media landscape before 2004 and the restrictive environment that followed.

“Through the analysis of numerous cases, the Investigative Commission determined that the United National Movement, upon coming to power, employed various methods to unjustifiably restrict media freedom and interfere in the editorial policies of media companies”, Tsulukiani said.

She noted that Saakashvili’s efforts to control the media were evident even during his tenure as Minister of Justice, when he directly approached a favoured media company, offering grants and support in exchange for its loyalty, essentially proposing it “become his”.

“As revealed during the Commission’s work, this ambition was evident in Mikheil Saakashvili’s actions from the early years of his political career. Specifically, when he was Georgia’s Minister of Justice, he directly contacted a media company he favoured, offering it to become his in exchange for grants and support”, she noted.

Despite initial promises of democratic reforms and early support from the media, Tsulukiani explained that Saakashvili and his administration quickly turned intolerant of criticism.

“Despite coming to power with promises of democratic reforms and significant media support, after a brief period of warm relations with the press, Saakashvili and his team displayed an intolerant attitude toward any criticism or differing opinions. Consequently, critical programs, probing questions, and journalistic investigations began to disappear as early as 2004, while some opposition media, similar to state media, started supporting the Government”, she concluded.