Vasil Maghlaperidze re-elected as chair of Georgian Public Broadcaster’s Board of Trustees amid controversy

Vasil Maghlaperidze was on Thursday re-elected as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Georgia’s Public Broadcaster. The election process took place against the backdrop of protests outside the broadcaster’s new building in Tbilisi.

Maghlaperidze was the sole candidate for the position, having been nominated by Bondo Mdzinarashvili, a trustee appointed with the quota of non-majority MPs, including the pro-Russian Alliance of Patriots. He secured the position with eight votes, while three trustees – Lasha Tughushi, Lika Basilaia-Shavgulidze, and Zaza Abashidze – expressed their opposition to his re-election.

Maghlaperidze has served as the Board’s chairman for the past three years. However, his tenure has been marred by concerns over editorial independence. Several employees have previously raised concerns about interference in editorial policy, alleging restrictions on their ability to plan news programs and cover critical issues. Under Georgia’s Law on Broadcasting, trustees are prohibited from direct involvement in editorial decision-making.

Two weeks prior to his re-election, on March 21, the Board, under Maghlaperidze’s leadership, reviewed complaints from several employees, including Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, Nino Zautashvili, Kakha Melikidze, and Gia Imnaishvili, who had criticized the broadcaster’s editorial stance. Following the discussion, trustees – Vasil Maghlaperidze, Gia Murghulia, Giorgi Kokhreidze, Tamila Dolidze, Bondo Mdzinarashvili, Izebela Osipova, Giorgi Iakobashvili, and Soso Sturua – requested the prosecutor’s office to investigate the matter.

Before joining the Board of Trustees, Maghlaperidze served as the General Director of the Public Broadcaster. Between his resignation and return, in early 2021, he briefly held the position of Deputy Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party. However, this political affiliation is not mentioned in his official biography on the Public Broadcaster’s website.

Maghlaperidze was initially nominated for the Board of Trustees by the Georgian Dream and secured his seat on April 13, 2022, with the backing of 83 MPs, while 19 voted against him. His career includes experience in journalism and media management, including holding key positions at television channels associated with Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the Georgian Dream and its honorary chair.

The Board of Trustees consists of 11 members, each serving a six-year term. According to the Law on Broadcasting, the ruling party has significant influence in the selection process, as parliamentary approval is required, and the Georgian Dream holds a majority in the legislature.