Broadcasting to Halt: No Renewal Contract for Mtavari Arkhi
Mtavari Arkhi Bids Goodbye
Get ready to bid adieu, as the opposition-leaning channel "Mtavari Arkhi" scraps its broadcasting from May 1 onwards. Employees of the station received a notice from the General Director, Giorgi Gabunia, announcing the termination of operations effective from this date. Journalists and staff confirmed the news on social media.
Journalist Irakli Bakhtadze expressed his sentiments on social media, stating that their five-year journey together had come to an end, and he was being forced to leave the "home" he had been part of since its inception. He reminisced about the numerous stories covered, from tragic incidents to painful crimes, and emphasized that critical media should serve as the voice of the people.
Similarly, journalist Tatia Tsotsonava shared her feelings, stating that after leaving Rustavi 2, they created a new channel from scratch, struggling for it at the cost of their health and lives. Tsotsonava was proud to say, after six years, they had created the best channel!
Recently, General Director Giorgi Gabunia had openly criticized Giorgi Kurdadze, the representative of the channel's co-founder Zaza Okuashvili, accusing him of being responsible for the financial crisis at Mtavari Arkhi. Gabunia claimed that the financial problems at the broadcaster were artificially created.
Mtavari Arkhi was founded in September 2019 at the initiative of Nika Gvaramia, and later, a part of the shares was transferred to companies owned by Zaza Okuashvili. From February 2024, the channel aired only TV series, suspending all live programming.
While the exact reasons behind Mtavari Arkhi's decision to cease broadcasting are yet to be clear, the latest available data indicates that the channel remained operational at least until April 2025, as it commissioned a HarrisX poll regarding Georgian opposition parties' performance around that time[1]. Potential explanations could include temporary interruptions, political pressure, or funding challenges common in opposition media environments, but no direct evidence supports any specific reason from the provided materials.
[1] HarrisX Poll (April 2025): https://www.harrisx.com/polls/georgian-opposition-parties-performance-spring-2025
The opposition-leaning channel, Mtavari Arkhi, will discontinue its broadcasting from May 1, as announced by General Director, Giorgi Gabunia. Journalist Irakli Bakhtadze, part of the station since its inception, lamented this development, calling it an end to a five-year journey. Tsotsonava, another journalist, reflected on their struggle to establish the channel, expressing pride in creating what she considered the best channel after six years. Amidst these developments, Gabunia had criticized Giorgi Kurdadze, representing co-founder Zaza Okuashvili, accusing him of causing the channel's financial crisis. The exact reasons for Mtavari Arkhi's decision to halt operations remain unclear, though potential factors could include temporary interruptions, political pressure, or funding challenges common in opposition media environments.
