Nine-Party Bloc Suspends Rustavi 2, Mze TV Boycott
The nine-party opposition coalition said on April 17 it was stopping boycotting Rustavi 2 and Mze television stations.
“I want to address all journalists, all media outlets that our door is open for you, it is open for all televisions and journalists no matter whether they have an aggressive or loyal attitude towards us,” MP Davit Gamkrelidze, leader of the New Rights party, part of the nine-party opposition coalition, said. “This election headquarters is open for Rustavi 2 and Mze televisions as well. We are ready to submit information to everybody, to make comments for everybody.”
MP Gamkrelidze was speaking at a presentation of the bloc’s election headquarters in Tbilisi. Gamkrelidze is head of the campaign headquarters.
The coalition launched boycotting the two TV stations in March during the opposition hunger strike, accusing the two networks of biased reporting in favor of the authorities. Earlier in February Rustavi 2 TV itself said it was “suspending cooperation” with Levan Gachechiladze, leader of the opposition coalition, unless the latter apologized for “insulting” statements against the television station’s journalist. Speaking on Rustavi 2 TV’s live political talk-show, Primetime, on February 14, Gachechiladze referred to an unnamed Rustavi 2 TV journalist as “riffraff.”
Meanwhile, Levan Gachechiladze, who leads the list of MP candidates of the nine-party bloc, said on April 17 that his bloc was launching “a liberation movement” to set free the legislative body “occupied” by the ruling party.
