Tbilisi hosts rally in support of Global TV

On June 28, near the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), representatives of the youth organization of the "Georgian Dream", the political coalition of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, held an action entitled "Corrupted dishes".

Participants of the action expressed their protest in connection with the actions of law enforcement agencies with regard to the Georgian "Global TV" Cable Company. Activists of the youth wing of the coalition came to the MIA's building with banners reading: "Corrupted dishes", "Criminal dishes detained", and they brought with them table dishes with the inscription "Global TV".

Let us remind you that on June 11, the Tbilisi City Court fined Bidzina Ivanishvili in the case of free distribution of satellite dishes by the "Global Consulting Group" Company and in the case of preferential service of the "Georgian Dream" by cars of the "Burji" and "Elita Burji" Companies. On June 21, as part of the investigation into the case of bribing voters, warehouses, which kept satellite dishes of the "Global TV" Company, were sealed.

"Freedom of expression and information is restricted in the country, and an important role in that fact is played by Georgian police, which together with the Control Chamber and courts performs the political order of President Mikhail Saakashvili," young oppositionists state.

"We condemn the racket against free business, and we treat the decision with regard to the 'Global TV' Company as a political one. The courts and the police should be independent entities, and they should deal with the fight against lawlessness and not the pressure on the Cable Company," said Shota Dzagnidze, one of the leaders of the youth organization.

According to the participants of the protest action, such actions will be continued, till the country "restores justice", the "News-Georgia" reports.

In his turn, Bidzina Ivanishvili, businessman and politician, completes sale of his assets in Russia to ensure that his name is not associated with Russian politics and business. At present, according to Forbes, Bidzina Ivanishvili's assets are estimated at the amount of 6.4 billion US dollars, the "RBC" reports.

On June 12, Alexander Ronzhes, a stakeholder of the "Global TV", stated that the Company should dismantle all its satellite antennas and thus stop broadcasting in Georgia. According to him, the decision to dismantle the antennas was made by the Tbilisi City Court on the basis of the claim of the Georgian "Rustavi 2" and "Imedi" TV Channels.

At present, the "Global TV" is the only satellite TV Company in Georgia, which broadcasts the "9^th Channel", established by Bidzina Ivanishvili.