"Imedi" suspends broadcasting in Georgia

Georgiy Targamadze, director of political programmes of the Tbilisi-based "Imedi" TV Company, which resumed its broadcasting on December 12, has stated today that the Company is temporarily stopped.

"We've made a decision to suspend broadcasting as a protest act. We'll not resume it until the passions come down and the authorities stop blackmailing our journalists," Mr Targamadze has promised. "We completely disavow from the dirty policy of the powers," he added.

According to his story, the TV Channel stops its broadcasting until the legal status of the Channel's property is defined and until the political situation in the country regains its normal status, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" has informed that today six journalists of the "Imedi" TV Channel have left the Channel in protest against the recent actions of the founder of the TV Company and candidate for President of Georgia Badri Patarkatsishvili.

"Right because the founder of our TV Company and candidate for President of Georgia Badri Patarkatsishvili is the main figurant of the latest events, we find it unacceptable to remain with the Company, as we think that even our journalistic freedom can be used incorrectly," Rusudan Tskhomelidze, one of the journalists, has stated today at a special briefing.

We remind you that on December 24 the State Office of Public Prosecutor of Georgia again accused Patarkatsishvili of conspiracy. This time, Valery Gelbahiani, head of Patarkatsishvili's electoral staff, was made a suspect in the case of a coup d'etat attempt. Former judge Marina Gabuniya, who under the version of the General Prosecutor's Office took part in the plot, is also accused.