Imedi TV appeals to diplomatic missions accredited in Georgia not to ignore “ongoing large-scale attacks, bullying, insults, organised hate campaigns” against TV channel’s journalists

Imedi TV on Monday appealed to diplomatic missions accredited in Georgia not to ignore ongoing large-scale attacks, bullying, insults, and organised hate campaigns against Imedi TV journalists.

In a statement, Imedi TV noted that there had recently been increasing calls for interference in the editorial policy of Imedi TV, with different opposition groups calling on Imedi TV, “often in the form of threats”, to conduct its broadcasts “differently”.

“We would like to remind you that Imedi TV is a private company, one of the main goals of which is [providing] an objective editorial policy, and therefore, maintaining high trust and ratings. The TV channel fulfills this task extremely well. High viewer trust has determined that over the past decade, Imedi TV has been the undisputed leader of the Georgian TV space”, the statement said.

“It is precisely this high trust and ratings that are the main reasons why our opponents are increasingly eager to appear on Imedi TV. This trust and rating are also thanks to the fact that Imedi TV has an independent editorial policy, within the framework of which we decide who we will invite and we do not intend to change this fact”, the statement continued.

Imedi TV further noted that despite numerous “discrediting, slanderous statements and insults” against the TV company, Imedi “was, is and will be committed” to Georgia’s European future.

“We are proud of the role we played on Georgia’s path to Europe. Even when we were broadcasting the crimes of the authoritarian regime of the [United] National Movement [party] against its citizens, which completely disregarded European values, and now, when we were introducing our viewers to the most important historical process for the country such as the signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union, visa liberalisation, free trade and granting [the EU membership] candidate status. We are confident that the majority of Georgian citizens will also learn about Georgia’s accession to the European Union from our broadcasts”, Imedi TV noted.

The statement stressed that the pressure and bullying on TV channel’s employees by the “radical” opposition, their affiliated media, and NGOs was crossing all limits.

“Attempts to humiliate the TV channel's journalists, extremely offensive wording, sometimes attempts at physical violation, obstruction of broadcasting the ongoing protests on the city's central avenue, a campaign to tarnish the image on social networks, and obstruction of journalistic activities by well-organised groups are nothing more than fighting a different opinion using Soviet, Bolshevik methods. This behavior has nothing to do with either Western democracy or the civilised world”, the statement concluded.