Mtavari Arkhi TV halts the partnership with Ipsos [multinational market research and consulting firm], TV Head Nika Gvaramia posted on Facebook on the eve of the runoffs.
Gvaramia suspects “a corrupt bargain”, saying they identified a key figure “involved in the fraud, aiming to disrupt our exit polls. The main mechanism for preventing fraud no longer exists.”
Gvaramia pledges to inform all partner television, international media outlets and human rights organizations, as well as private companies using Ipsos services within the country, about their “unreliability, dishonesty and alleged involvement in corrupt transactions.”
Mtavari Arkhi TV vows to appeal against such “unscrupulous” actions, demanding a refund as well as compensation for reputational defamation and cancellation of exit polls.
Georgian Dream Public Relations Secretary Shalva Papuashvili said yesterday that the runoffs-linked data on the website of Mtavari Arkhi and IPSOS regarding the Zugdidi mayoral election does not match.