The News in Brief

Kobakhidze Calls on EU to Match Statements With Actions

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has called on the European Union to demonstrate its support for Georgia through concrete actions rather than statements alone.

Speaking to journalists, Kobakhidze commented on remarks by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia and Moldova.

Kobakhidze said that everyone should be consistent in defending Georgia's national interests and argued that support for the country should be reflected in policy decisions as well as public statements.

"Everyone should be consistent in protecting our national interests," Kobakhidze said. "Statements should not be made only on specific topics. They should show us with actions that the European bureaucracy stands on the side of the Georgian people."

He also claimed that European institutions have acted against Georgia's national interests in recent years, criticizing what he described as the European bureaucracy's approach toward the country.



Adjara TV Dismisses 14 Employees, Raising Press Freedom Concerns

Adjara TV and Radio has dismissed 14 employees, including journalists, as part of a reorganization process, drawing criticism from media watchdogs and concerns over the future of independent journalism at the regional public broadcaster.

The dismissals were first reported by MediaChecker. Broadcaster Director Irakli Kikvadze confirmed the layoffs, saying the station "had to bid farewell to several employees" due to restructuring and the suspension of a number of programs.

The move comes amid an ongoing relocation and reorganization process launched after engineering assessments found Adjara TV's headquarters to be structurally unsafe. Management has suspended all programs except news digests, prompting fears among staff that critical programming could be sidelined.

The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics described the dismissals as "unfair and unfounded," saying some affected journalists believe they were targeted because of their critical views. The watchdog warned the move could be an attempt to remove independent voices from the broadcaster.

Among those dismissed was journalist Irina Kurua, who said the decision was expected and argued it reflected a broader pattern of pressure on critical journalists within Adjara TV.