For Sale: Georgia's Media Freedom

For Sale: Georgia's Media Freedom

TBILISI, Georgia, February 25/PRNewswire/ -- Media freedom in Georgia suffered another blow today when it was
announced that Imedi, formerly the country's only independent TV station, is
to be sold to RAK Georgia Holdings, an affiliate of the United Arab Emirates'
owned property development company, Rakeen.

Imedi TV was the subject of a long running dispute between the Georgian
government and the late businessman, Badri Patarkatsishvili, until his death
in February last year. In November 2007, Imedi was forcibly shut down and has
since been expropriated on behalf of the Georgian government.
Patarkatsishvili's family commenced an international arbitration against the
State of Georgia and named Josef Kay, a former Patarkatsishvili associate, as
co-conspirator with the government in arranging the expropriation.

A spokesperson for Patarkatsishvili's family today said, "This Rakeen
deal shows President Saakashvili is prepared to put Georgia's media freedom
up for sale. Imedi was once the most important outlet for free speech in
Georgia. Saakashvili and his government took Imedi and now plan to transfer
it to a subsidiary of an Arab emirate with no experience in free
broadcasting. This is how much the Georgian government cares for personal
property and free speech."

Rakeen has only been in existence since 2007, when it was set up as a
property development company by the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al
Khaimah, in the UAE. As Rakeen's own website shows, the company has no
experience of running a media organization. Rakeen now appears to have been
rewarded by the President of Georgia for its billion dollar investments in
the country with a the Imedi TV company.

Actual ownership of RAK Georgia Holding is not clear. Patarkatsishvili's
family asks the questions on many Georgian's minds: "We want to know and the
Georgian people need to know exactly who is behind this company? Who are the
so-called 'Georgian partners' in RAK Georgia Holdings? Do they include any
Georgian government ministers?"

The timing of the Rakeen sale is illuminating. Last week, the Georgian
court awarded Josef Kay authority to execute the contested will of the late
Badri Patarkatsishvili, despite compelling evidence that Kay's case was based
on forged documents and fraud. The judgment was widely viewed in Georgia as
further evidence of political influence over the judicial system. Now, just
five days after this decision, Kay has announced the sale of Imedi to the UAE
based property development firm.

The family's spokesperson said. We intend to pursue all available legal
recourse to halt this sale and return Imedi to its rightful owners."

"We will continue our fight to restore Imedi to its rightful owners and
as an independent media voice for Georgia."

Source: Media Freedom for Georgia

For further information, please contact the spokesperson for the family, Mark Hauf on +44(0)7726-361-037 or info@mediafreedomforgeorgia.com

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