Prepared by Messenger Staff
Georgian Dream Says Past Corruption Challenges Have Been Overcome
Georgian Dream has said its founder and honorary chair, Bidzina Ivanishvili, reviewed past corruption-related challenges within the ruling team and declared them overcome during meetings of the party's Political Council and parliamentary majority.
According to a party statement, the Political Council met at Georgian Dream's central office on Gorgasali Street, with all members in attendance, alongside Ivanishvili. The council's composition was updated to include parliamentary majority leader Irakli Kirtskhalia and Adjara government head Zurab Pataradze.
After the council meeting, discussions continued with the parliamentary majority. The party said both meetings covered political and economic developments in Georgia.
Ivanishvili thanked team members for their active work and said corruption-related challenges had been "fully and effectively overcome" thanks to the work of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, the government team and law enforcement and security agencies.
The statement added that participants also discussed specific initiatives and reforms recently announced by the government, while the parliamentary majority meeting was held in a discussion format.
Imedi TV Ownership Redistributed Among Four Shareholders
The ownership of Georgian Media Production Group, which owns Imedi TV, has been redistributed among four shareholders, each holding a 25% stake, according to registry documents filed on October 16.
Imedi General Director Mariam Lomidze, presenter Irakli Chikhladze and programming head Maia Chigoshvili each increased their stakes from 10% to 25%. Host and supervisory board member Magda Anikashvili became the fourth shareholder with a 25% stake.
Prime Media Global, previously holding 50%, exited the company, as did financial director Vasil Kalandarishvili and news head Natia Songhulashvili. According to documents cited by Mediachecker, the shares were transferred through several transactions, with individual stakes sold for between GEL 50 and GEL 150.
Imedi was sanctioned by the United Kingdom in February over alleged involvement in Russian disinformation. The broadcaster has since faced commercial repercussions, with Procter & Gamble ending its ties with the channel in June and Rustavi 2 overtaking it in advertising revenue in the second quarter of 2026 for the first time since at least 2001.
Georgian Dream officials have dismissed the British sanctions as politically motivated and pledged to defend the affected broadcasters.
