Imedi TV owner highlights TV company’s raison d'être as not to allow United National Movement party, its affiliates to return to power
Irakli Rukhadze
Photo: IMEDI TV
Irakli Rukhadze, the owner of Imedi TV company, on Monday highlighted the TV company’s raison d'être as not to allow the opposition United National Movement party and its affiliates to return to power.
In his remarks following a meeting with the visiting delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Rukhadze noted that many opposition-leaning TV stations were claiming that the domestic transparency law would put an end to their functioning, though the reality showed quite a different picture, with all opposition media continuing their activities.
“I'm so glad you're all here. I remember at the previous similar meeting, representatives of many TV channels claimed that with the effective transparency law they would have to stop their activities. Of course, I asked why, but they could not explain it to me. I told them what was happening [during the former United National Movement Government], what kind of media environment we had [in the country], what happened to Imedi TV in 2007. I also told them that in this situation I always prove to myself that Imedi TV exists to ensure that the United National Movement [party] and its affiliates - no matter in which parties they are scattered - never return to power. This is the mission that I have. That’s why Imedi TV exists, a non-profitable, non-business Imedi TV”, Rukhadze told local media.
Rukhadze further added that Imedi TV represented foreign citizens as he himself was a US citizen, while his partners were English and American citizens.
“Therefore, if we give more than 20 percent [of funds to the TV company], that’s foreign money, [and] then we have to register [in the registry under the transparency law]. It's just not necessary yet, as the lawyers tell me. There is no problem with registration”, he continued.
Rukhadze also recalled the UNM Government crackdown on Imedi TV in 2007 when the TV company was raided by the police and suspended broadcasting through a court decision.
“In order not to have this situation back, that's why Imedi TV exists nowadays, so that the people who did this to us and left us with absolutely no differing opinions for so many years, do not come back. That is why Imedi TV exists”, he concluded.
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