Two ex-Georgian officials face charges for violating Iberia TV

The Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has charged two former high-ranking officials for crimes committed 11 years ago regarding the illegal closure of the Iberia TV channel and seizure of the media outlet’s broadcasting license.

In a statement today the Prosecutor’s Office named Georgia’s ex-chief prosecutor Zurab Adeishvili and his first deputy Giorgi Latsabidze as the two ex-officials who committed offences in 2004. 

In today’s statement the Office alleged shortly after the United National Movement (UNM) government came to power, it wanted to control Iberia TV which was then owned by the Omega Group. The Group also owned a publishing company and other entrepreneurial businesses at the time. 

As a way for UNM to control the media outlet, former officials Adeishvili and Latsabidze brought a group of people into the television building and exerted their control over the staff and the television station’s equipment and property. The staff were also forced to leave the television building.

As a result Iberia TV was unable to broadcast. 

After this Adeishvili and Latsabidze allegedly summoned Omega Group leaders and told them their people would leave the television company office only if the TV company officials hand over the media outlet’s broadcasting license. If they refused the entire Omega Group business would be at risk of closure.

The Omega Group officials were forced to give up their media broadcasting license, which later appeared in the UNM Government’s hands, said the Office.

The Office claimed former head of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Dimitri Kitoshvili was also involved in this incident, as he helped facilitate the "illegal agreement”. 

Adeishvili has already been charged in absentia for abuse of power with the use of violence, inhumane treatment, provoking a crime and fabricating evidence.

 He is believed to be in Ukraine and participating in consultations about ways to fight against corruption.