Georgian PM sends condolences after death of country’s first TV host

Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday sent his condolences over the passing away of Lia Mikadze, the first television host in the country and a longtime TV personality, at the age of 86. 

Expressing his condolences to relatives, friends and colleagues of the late media professional, the head of the government said her “high professionalism and academic style” had led viewers to “love her and follow her work for almost half a century”. 

The pioneering TV host worked for the public broadcaster Channel 1 for 48 years starting in 1956, when it started broadcasting during the Soviet times. 

Mikadze, who welcomed viewers in the inaugural programme, featured on the channel until 2004.