MP Viktor Japaridze Sells Majority Stake in UK-Sanctioned POSTV

Viktor Japaridze, a Georgian businessman and lawmaker from Georgian Dream’s offshoot People’s Power party, has sold his 52% stake in pro-government channel POSTV, months after the channel was sanctioned by the United Kingdom over alleged involvement in “Russian disinformation.”

According to the publicly available business registry documents, shares were purchased by Giorgi Shengelia, who had already been managing Japaridze’s shares in the past months. Shengelia also owns full shares in Supporters of POSTV LLC, a company registered on February 25, just a day after the UK sanctioned POSTV, raising suspicions at the time that the company emerged to help the channel navigate the sanctions.

Media reported that Japaridze sold his shares for GEL 1,000 (USD 385).

Following the sale, POSTV’s ownership is divided among three shareholders: Shengelia, who owns 52%; Shalva Ramishvili, a controversial media figure and the channel’s anchor, who owns 24%; and Temur Charelishvili, who owns 24%.

Japaridze, the 59-year-old politician, had acquired his majority stake in POSTV in 2022, the same year he left the ruling Georgian Dream party to join People’s Power, a political group founded by former Georgian Dream lawmakers.

He was among the People’s Power members elected to Parliament through Georgian Dream’s party list in the disputed 2024 parliamentary election and continues to serve as an MP.

The United Kingdom sanctioned POSTV and Imedi TV, two major pro-government Georgian broadcasters, on February 24 as part of its broader sanctions against Russia, with the British government identifying both channels as entities “involved in Russian disinformation.”

Weeks before the sanctions were announced, on February 6, businessman Irakli Rukhadze also said he was selling the shares of pro-government TV Imedi channel, for what was also reported to be a symbolic price of GEL 1,000 (USD 385).

Also Read:

• 06/08/2026 – ComCom Fines Pro-Government POSTV For Violating ‘Impartiality’ Principles
• 06/03/2026 – Slamming UK Sanctions, ComCom Warns Stricter Content Regulation of Georgian Broadcasters
• 25/02/2026 – Georgian Dream Backs UK-Sanctioned Channels Amid Uncertainty Over Impact
• 17/02/2025 – People’s Power’s Viktor Japaridze Appointed Deputy Chair of GD’s Defense and Security Committee
  

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