According to Irakli Rukhadze, the owner of Imedi TV company, they will not allow the United National Movement to return to power, and as long as this party exists, there will be polarization.
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Rukhadze made this statement after a meeting between media managers and representatives of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) observation mission.
“As long as the National Movement exists - and in the National Movement I also consider those parties that were once part of it, those who stand behind the Formula TV, those who stand behind the Mtavari TV, those who stand behind the Tabula, these people - until then, of course, we will be polarized because they put 1/10 of the country in prison,” Irakli Rukhadze told journalists after leaving the meeting.
On the question of whether opposition politicians will be invited to appear on Imedi, Rukhadze said that he is the owner of the TV company, not the director.
“Trump also doesn't appear on TV, not participate in debates, but he is doing fine in the American elections. I cannot say why someone comes and why someone does not. For example, I will never let the owner of Formula, set his foot on Imedi. Mrs. Giuli Alasania is one of the co-owners of Mtavari, and of course, I will not let her set foot on Imedi and those associated with her. I will not let Giorgi Vashadze step foot on Imedi. Because of him, I lost everything when he was the Head of Registry. They turned me, an American citizen, into a citizen of American Samoa and I lost my assets. How can I let Giorgi Vashadze on Imedi?!
As long as Mikheil Saakashvili, his party, the Vashadzes, and others exist, there will be polarization because we cannot allow these people to come back. Because I know exactly what they will do; I have seen that movie. None of you would have existed during Saakashvili's time. You exist only thanks to the Georgian Dream.
They took Imedi from me in 2008. Kezerashvili met us and told me that I should hand over company Borjomi to his friend. I refused, and the next day my car was blown up. This man should not return to politics,” said the owner of Imedi.
According to media managers, Irakli Rukhadze also made political statements during the meeting with the NDI delegation. According to Nino Nakashidze, the Deputy General Director of Mtavari TV, Rukhadze scolded the media critical of the government: “He accused us and other media of only pursuing political goals and lying. What upset me the most was when he said that Lekso Lashkarava died of an overdose. He mostly unsalted us all and talked about Saakashvili's time," Nakashidze said.
The NDI delegation is meeting with representatives of the government, political parties, the civil sector, the media, and the diplomatic corps. The Georgian office of the international organization explained that before the 2024 parliamentary elections, the members of the delegation will assess the general political environment and the factors that may affect the pre-election processes. The delegation will publish the main conclusions in the form of a report, and no comments will be made to the media until then.
