Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker criticises media sanction as threat to freedom of expression

Thea Tsulukiani, the vice speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday criticised recent British sanctions targeting Imedi TV, describing them as a direct assault on media freedom and a repeat of historical attempts to silence the broadcaster.

In her interview with Imedi TV, Tsulukiani argued that the motives behind these measures are rooted in a desire to interfere with journalistic activities by the same political forces that once infamously raided the TV station.

Tsulukiani emphasised that the sanctions lack sufficient justification and stand in direct contradiction to international human rights standards.

Drawing parallels to the 2007 raid on Imedi TV and the pressures faced by its late founder, Badri Patarkatsishvili, Tsulukiani warned that these actions are part of a familiar “script”.

“They want a repeat of the past, to silence the words spoken here - words some people like and others don't. We know they find them unacceptable, which is why they want to shut you down. Without you, the public becomes easy to manage because there is no longer an alternative view. We’ve seen this film many times already. The only difference is that we are stronger now and we won't let them show this movie, though the script is exactly the same”, she said.

“Looking at it from a constitutional and treaty-based standpoint, I believe this sanction lacks any proper legal basis and directly breaches Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This article clearly protects freedom of expression, noting that it encompasses the freedom to share information. Certain individuals want to limit or completely cancel the flow of information your channel provides, but so far, they haven't been able to succeed”, she concluded.