“The TV company Formula is entirely staffed with party activists,” said Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in response to a question regarding the detention of journalists Vakho Sanaia and Keta Tsitskishvili.

According to him, none of the journalists from this television company has been arrested. These two individuals are ordinary party activists; they took part in the illegal rally as activists, not as journalists.

“Participation in an illegal rally is punishable under the relevant law. They blocked the street with fifty people; how can fifty people block a street? That is a clear violation of the law. A very proportionate decision has been made against these individuals. Look at what is happening in Finland: Ursula von der Leyen delivered a speech, someone chanted at her, and was immediately arrested and fined a substantial amount.

Tell me, in which country would fifty people blocking the main avenue of the capital every day for a year be tolerated? If journalists did this in any capital, they would be imprisoned. Do you understand whether they are party members now? The Formula TV is entirely staffed with party activists,” said Irakli Kobakhidze.