“I take full responsibility and do my best to inform the public truthfully, as it is our duty”, – Vasil Maghlaperidze, General Director of Georgian Public Broadcaster made the regarding statement in connection with report on Zviad Ratiani’s case.

According to Vasil Maglaperidze, during covering the issue the First Channel was acting in accordance with established standards.

“I take full responsibility about what happened and how it happened. I have my attitude towards this report – it is not positive but at the same time I would like to say that I with pleasure will put my head against the first stone thrown by the television. The First Channel acted in accordance with set standards. Absolutely all the channels aired this footage. First Channel covered the offensive words with the sound effect, though there are channels which aired this video without such effect. Due to the fact that we still have low visibility, it was seen as if the First Channel published and disseminated it”,  – Maglaperidze said.

“That day I was not at work because of my personal problems. I fully studied the situation yesterday. Later I will describe you how this topic was covered in the media, and you will see that report is in full accordance with what happened, “- Maglaperidze said.

He noted that on the basis of high public interest, many journalists considered it necessary to publish video material on Zviad Ratiani case provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.