**Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office Targets Opposition TV Channel**
On July 17, Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office announced that it has requested financial records from Mtavari Arkhi, a popular opposition TV channel critical of the ruling Georgian Dream party. The move comes as part of an investigation into alleged financial misconduct at the broadcaster.
The probe centers on allegations of “abuse of managerial authority,” “misappropriation and embezzlement” of funds, and the “legalization of illicit income.” Mtavari Arkhi has denied any wrongdoing, calling the accusations “absurd.”
**Internal Conflict and Allegations**
Mtavari Arkhi’s internal management conflict escalated in May when the channel went off air. The conflict began last year between Zaza Okuashvili, a co-founder of the channel, and its general director, Giorgi Gabunia. Okuashvili has been accused by Gabunia of orchestrating efforts to dismantle the station and colluding with Georgian Dream.
Okuashvilli denies these accusations and has countered that Gabunia and other channel officials have engaged in “financial manipulation” leading to the channel’s artificial bankruptcy. The conflict has led to claims of embezzlement and mismanagement, further straining relations between Okuashvili and the channel’s management.
**Background: Mtavari Arkhi and Georgian Politics**
Mtavari Arkhi was founded by Nika Gvaramia, a former director general of Rustavi 2 TV. The opposition party co-founder has been at odds with the ruling Georgian Dream party since his release from prison in 2023 after being pardoned for abuse of power.
The current investigation comes amidst mounting pressure on opposition media outlets critical of the Georgian government. Last year, two broadcasters were accused of questioning government legitimacy, leading to a surge in cases against journalists and media organizations.
**Commentary**
“This latest move by the Prosecutor’s Office highlights ongoing tensions between Georgia’s ruling party and opposition media,” said our expert commentator. “The allegations against Mtavari Arkhi seem designed to further silence an influential voice critical of Georgian Dream.”
“As we’ve seen before, these types of investigations often lack transparency, and their outcome may be influenced by politics rather than the rule of law. We will continue to monitor this situation closely, as it holds significant implications for Georgia’s media landscape and democratic development,” our commentator added.
**Read More**
For more information on the ongoing conflict between Mtavari Arkhi and the Georgian government, please see our archives at civil.ge.
Read More @ civil.ge
