Giorgi Gvimradze, Director of News and Current Affairs Bloc of the Georgian First Channel and Host of Free Vision Program says that a campaign targeted at bringing First Channel under control and obedience is ongoing.

As Gvimradze said, the statement of Giorgi Gotsiridze, lawyer of Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) in the address to First Channel followed the research carried out by Media Development Foundation.

“Despite the fact that Head of Open Society – Georgia Foundation claimed in live air of our program that the survey was not purposeful and was merely an evaluation of one particular TV story, the message was clear – readiness to voice an accusation – why do you finance the Georgian First Channel?,” Gvimradze said. According to Gvimradze, this was an attempt to harm the reputation of the Georgian First Channel.

The issue refers to the research “Information of regions populated by representatives of ethnic minorities on the issue of Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic Integration.” The research was carried out by Media Development Foundation and was financed by Open Society – Georgia Foundation.

Discussions over the research were held in Free Vision Program of First Channel on March 19. Keti Khutsishvili, Executive Director of Open Society – Georgia Foundation was the guest of the program.