Maka Chikhladze

Affiliated media: Pirveli TV channel, Correspondent

Incident date: September 16, 2022

Attack type:

• prosecution for violation of the honour, dignity and business reputation; violation of privacy following civil lawsuit

Who attacked: Non-authorities

Source: News-Georgia

Location: Georgia, Tbilisi

Additional information:

On September 16, the mother of Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of the Georgian Dream government party, Tamar Zaalishvili filed a lawsuit against the opposition TV channel Pirveli, accusing it of defamation. Tamar Zaalishvili is a former deputy of the National Center for Education Quality Development. In July, the program «Saturday with Nodar Meladze» aired a report saying that Zaalishvili was certifying fake diplomas. Zaalishvili is demanding «symbolic» compensation in the amount of GEL 5,555 from the Pirveli TV channel, as well as 5 GEL each from the author of the story Maka Chikhladze and producer of the program Nodar Meladze for which it was produced. Pirveli TV lawyer Ketevan Zandukeli said they hope «the court will be able to stay within the law and make a fair decision, as objectively there is no legal possibility to satisfy the lawsuit». On September 20, 2022, the Tbilisi court satisfied her demands. The TV company was also ordered to prepare a refutation.