Georgian Public Broadcaster faces possible expulsion from European Broadcasting Union

The Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) is facing potential expulsion from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) following the suspension of news anchor Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, according to reports by domestic media.

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has strongly condemned the decision to temporarily remove Chikovani from his role as host of the news program Moambe for his critical stance over the broadcaster’s alleged partiality to the Government and detention of media manager Mzia Amaglobeli, calling it “unacceptable censorship and political interference.”

EFJ Secretary General Ricardo Gutiérrez urged the EBU to take immediate action. “We call on the European Broadcasting Union to intervene immediately,” Gutiérrez said. “If the unjustly sanctioned journalist is not immediately reinstated, the Public Broadcaster should be expelled from the EBU,” he added in a statement provided to Radio Tbilisi.

The Media Advocacy Coalition has also joined the calls for the EBU to take a stand, denouncing GPB’s leadership over what it describes as an effort to silence independent journalism. The coalition argues that Chikovani’s suspension is a direct attack on press freedom and a broader attempt to stifle impartial reporting in Georgia.

Chikovani himself confirmed his suspension, announcing that he will no longer be hosting the 18:00 edition of Moambe. He shared an official letter from the broadcaster stating that he is “temporarily no longer obliged to perform the function of the news program host until the current complicated situation is normalized.”