Two pro-government Georgian TV channels have been subject to UK sanctions.

The UK government announced sanctions against the pro-government Georgian television companies Imedi and PosTV, blaming them for spreading Russian disinformation.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, in mid-February, Imedi, one of Georgia's key propaganda television channels, was sold for $370. The new owner is Ilia Mikelaishvili, a close associate of the government, who immediately stated that the existing editorial policy would be respected.

According to official information on the British government's website, the Imedi and PosTV television companies are spreading deliberately misleading information about Russian actions against Ukraine and supporting narratives aimed at destabilizing Ukraine and undermining its territorial integrity, NewsGeorgia reported today.

In particular, they "regularly publish materials in which the Ukrainian government and President Zelenskyy are presented as illegitimate, Ukraine is called a "puppet" of the West, it is claimed that Ukraine is a corrupt country, and that Ukraine and the West are seeking to destabilize Georgia."

The sanctions include an asset freeze—all funds and economic resources belonging to sanctioned individuals in the UK are frozen. Individuals and legal entities in the UK may not conduct transactions with such individuals or acquire their assets; no one in the UK may directly or indirectly transfer funds to such individuals; Sanctions on trust services - UK citizens, as well as individuals or legal entities, are prohibited from managing property or providing any services to individuals or companies subject to sanctions; disqualification of directors - the owners or directors of these companies will not be able to manage companies in the UK.

A statement published on the Imedi website notes that the channel "has served Georgia and freedom of speech in the country for over 22 years." "It did not retreat even during the times when a criminal regime was in power in Georgia, exposing all its violations, despite attempts to infiltrate and seize the channel. It is worth recalling that at the time of the seizure of Imedi TV, the UK authorities did not even express any general concern. Moreover, after 2007, the British authorities continued to demonstrate support for the criminal regime that trampled on democracy, human rights, and freedom of speech in Georgia," the statement continued.

Imedi asserts that "against this background, British sanctions have no value." "The only true measure of Imedi TV is the trust of the Georgian people. Thanks to this trust, the channel has maintained its status as the highest-rated television station in Georgia for many years. Accordingly, in the future, the channel will act with a high sense of responsibility to Georgian society, continuing to vigorously serve Georgia's interests and freedom of speech in the country in order to fully justify the trust placed in it by society," the statement reads.

According to economist Giorgi Khishtovan, UK sanctions against Imedi and PosTV will create serious financial difficulties for these companies. According to him, problems are expected in financial transactions, advertising revenue, and banking obligations, which could also impact operational activities, the Pirveli television channel reported.

"Significant difficulties will arise in financial transactions, financial activities, and this will even affect the payment of salaries. At a minimum, international holdings and representatives of international companies will initially refuse to place advertisements with this sanctioned company. The same applies, in particular, to financial institutions, since this is associated with risks. Currently, these companies have bank loans, presumably both of them, and I do not rule out that now the banks will demand immediate repayment of these loans. I would say this: I would not want to be the financial director of this company," said Giorgi Khishtovani.

The European Parliament is also actively working to revoke the accreditation of the Imedi television channel, journalist Ketevan Kardava wrote on her Facebook page*.

According to her, last year one of the MEPs sent a letter to his colleagues demanding that Imedi be stripped of its accreditation. The initiative was motivated by Imedi's constant defamatory reporting on the European Parliament, the European Union, and European institutions, attacks on parliamentarians, and their portrayal as enemies.

"At the end of last year, I reported this letter to the television company. Some didn't take it seriously. I got the impression that some even wanted sanctions, so they could later link many events to it. Some seemed more concerned during the conversation. All of this was imaginary, because nothing changed—neither the tone nor the content. On the contrary, everything continued in the same or even harsher form," wrote Ketevan Kardava, referring to the channel's editorial policy.

In October 2025, municipal elections were held in Georgia, and thousands of people gathered in central Tbilisi for a protest. Opera singer Paata Burchaladze declared that power in Georgia belongs to the people, after which clashes with security forces and arrests began near the presidential palace. Security forces used riot gear, while protesters used firecrackers. At least one special forces soldier was injured. Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, called the events a provocation.