The Real Space team announces the Public Broadcaster's management has canceled the program. The remaining team members declined the TV management's offer to continue working on the morning radio show, website, in the promotions department, and on a music program.
News
"The employment relationship with Nino Zautashvili, the host and face of the aforementioned talk show, was terminated on April 11, 2025. Therefore, the continuation of the project term for the talk show is no longer planned," stated the Public Broadcaster's management in its decision.
"We do not diminish any creative editorial team or program of the Broadcaster, but
it is clear that management intends to fragment the team, preventing any of its members from doing what they are experienced and qualified to do.
They want to prevent a program from being made that we believe the public particularly needs right now—one that directly fulfills the Public Broadcaster's main function: to ensure the voice of the public is heard on the Public Broadcaster," stated journalist Tamar Mshvenieradze, reading the Real Space team's public statement.
Real Space was created 12 years ago and produced outstanding media content. The program offered the public relevant information and analysis on current social and political issues in the country.
“Signing the management’s offer would mean voluntarily signing off on the closure of this program and the space we created for you.
Therefore, we refuse the offer, even though management has already told us that refusal means termination of our employment contracts.
Finally, we wish strength and steadfastness to our colleagues and like-minded individuals in the team called 'Guardians of the Public Broadcaster,' who remain at the Public Broadcaster and continue their crucial fight to defend the idea of the Public Broadcaster.
We stand in solidarity with our colleague, Mzia Amaghlobeli, and we must remember her words: "Fight before it's too late." Our only means of fighting is to bring you the truth. The Real Space team no longer has that opportunity on this channel," said Tamar Mshvenieradze.
On April 11, Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, news presenter and journalist for Moambe, and Nino Zautashvili, host of Real Space, were dismissed from the Public Broadcaster. They had criticized the Public Broadcaster's pro-government editorial policy and had openly expressed solidarity with Mzia Amaghlobeli. Amaghlobeli is the head of "Batumelebi" and "Netgazeti," and she was unlawfully imprisoned by Georgian Dream.
The Media Advocacy Coalition has called the Public Broadcaster management's decision to cancel Real Space a “targeted repressive act”.
The Media Advocacy Coalition notes that the Broadcaster, led by Tinatin Berdzenishvili and Vasil Maghlapheridze, has been systematically persecuting independent and professional journalists. "These actions are taking place against a backdrop where the public is actively demanding that the Broadcaster fulfill its constitutional obligations and voice the people's concerns, while the above-mentioned journalists demanded that airtime be opened and properly informing citizens."
"The Public Broadcaster should be the property of the people, not a propaganda mouthpiece for Bidzina Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream.
We will continue to fight so that the Broadcaster fulfills its constitutional obligation and serves the interests of society," the Coalition stated.
