Shares of UK-Sanctioned Imedi TV Owner Redistributed Among Four Shareholders

The shares of Georgian Media Production Group, the company that owns the British-sanctioned, pro-government TV Imedi, have been redistributed among four people, who now hold equal 25% stakes in the company, according to documents filed with Georgia’s National Agency of Public Registry on October 16.

Before the changes, Prime Media Global, owned by businessman Ilia Mikelaishvili, held a 50% stake in Georgian Media Production Group. Imedi General Director Mariam Lomidze, presenter Irakli Chikhladze, programming head Maia Chigoshvili, financial director Vasil Kalandarishvili, and news service head Natia Songhulashvili each held 10%.

Following the redistribution, Prime Media Global, Kalandarishvili, and Songhulashvili no longer hold shares in the company. Lomidze, Chikhladze, and Chigoshvili have each increased their stakes from 10% to 25%, while Magda Anikashvili, a host and member of Imedi’s supervisory board, has become a new shareholder with a 25% stake.

According to the registry documents cited by Mediachecker, a platform run by the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics, Kalandarishvili and Songhulashvili each sold their 10% stake to Anikashvili for GEL 100 (USD 38). Anikashvili also acquired a 5% stake from Prime Media Global for GEL 50 (USD 19).

Prime Media Global sold its remaining 45% stake in three equal portions to Lomidze, Chikhladze, and Chigoshvili, each of whom paid GEL 150 for an additional 15% stake. The transactions left the company with four equal shareholders.

The ownership change follows a similar development at another UK-sanctioned pro-government broadcaster, POSTV, where Georgian Dream lawmaker Viktor Japaridze recently sold his 52% stake for GEL 1,000 (USD 385).

The changes at Imedi TV also come amid heightened scrutiny of the broadcaster following the United Kingdom’s decision on February 24 to sanction it along with POSTV, over their alleged involvement in Russian disinformation. In the weeks preceding the sanctions, Imedi TV owner Irakli Rukhadze gave up his shares.

Under the UK sanctions regime, the two broadcasters are subject to asset freezes, trust services sanctions, and director disqualification measures. According to the UK Financial Sanctions General Guidance, entities subject to asset freezes are restricted from accessing “funds and economic resources.”

In June, The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) cut ties with Imedi TV, while Swiss food and beverage company Nestlé launched an internal investigation after its products were advertised on the channel.

Following the sanctions, in the second quarter of 2026, Rustavi 2, another pro-government channel, overtook Imedi as the leader in commercial advertising revenues for the first time since at least 2001, ending the latter’s years-long dominance.

Georgian Dream officials have dismissed the British sanctions as politically motivated and pledged to take “full responsibility” for defending the broadcasters and summoned the UK Ambassador Gareth Ward at the Georgian Foreign Ministry.

Also Read:

• 06/03/2026 – Slamming UK Sanctions, ComCom Warns Stricter Content Regulation of Georgian Broadcasters
  

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