15:58, 20 August 2013

Ivanishvili family's TV Company stops broadcasting in Georgia

Journalist with video camera. Photo: http://www.ekhokavkaza.com/ (RFE/RL)

The TV Company "Channel 9" owned by Ekaterina Khvedelidze, the wife of the Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili, stopped broadcasting after the staff learned about the decision of the family to sell the Company.

Let us remind you that on August 19 Bidzina Ivanishvili said that the TV Company "Channel 9" and the News Agency "Info 9" will be closed in case he fails to sell them before September 1.

The last newscast of "Channel 9" was aired on August 19 at 9:00 p.m. and was dedicated to the Ivanishvilis' decision to sell the TV Company. It quoted the Prime Minister that the reason for the decision was in the presidential election forthcoming on October 27, which should be held without the use of administrative resources, the "News-Georgia" reports.

The Union of Georgia's Unemployed has spoken against stopping the TV Channel. It stated that the decision of the family would put the staff of the Company and the Agency and their families into a difficult situation. The Union has urged the Premier "not to contribute to the growth of unemployment in Georgia," the "Georgia-Online" reports.