Story perspectives

Georgia Summons UK Ambassador Over Sanctions on Local Broadcasters

2/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

Georgia's Foreign Ministry summoned the United Kingdom's ambassador Gareth Ward after UK sanctions on Imedi TV and POSTV for alleged Russian disinformation.
Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili called the sanctions "groundless" and lacking legal justification.
Imedi TV condemned the sanctions as worthless and emphasized the Georgian public's trust.
The sanctions include asset freezes and restrictions on trust services affecting broadcasters' operations.
Imedi plans to establish its own bank to mitigate risks.

History

Historical Context

In 2018, the UK government, led by Prime Minister Theresa May, imposed sanctions on over 150 Russian entities, including media outlets, following the Skripal poisoning incident. This action reflects ongoing geopolitical tensions between Western nations and Russia, particularly regarding media freedom and disinformation, which have intensified since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, leading to further restrictions on media operations.

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Story summary

Georgia's Foreign Ministry summoned the United Kingdom's ambassador Gareth Ward after UK sanctions on Imedi TV and POSTV for alleged Russian disinformation.
Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili called the sanctions "groundless" and lacking legal justification.
Imedi TV condemned the sanctions as worthless and emphasized the Georgian public's trust.
The sanctions include asset freezes and restrictions on trust services affecting broadcasters' operations.
Imedi plans to establish its own bank to mitigate risks.

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