State TV Fans the Flames

State TV Channel broadcasts live the talk-show “Vox Populi.” Ex-Prosecutor General, Head of State TV, head of National Democratic Party Irina Sarishvili, together with State TV journalists accuse Rustavi 2, Zurab Zhvania and Mikheil Saakashvili of orchestrating the popular protests.

Former officials state and state journalists claim that the “reformer” team attempted the coup. The program in essense gives the power to those officials that were dismissed on the wave of popular discontent.

Hysterical tone of the TV program with the national coverage is likely to fan the public outrage. The State Channel is likely to serve as a catalyst to the escalation and, possibly, violence. The public protests were moving towards de-escalation after the government resigned today.