The broadcasting of the Georgian opposition TV channel Mtavari will be completely suspended from May 1, Radio Liberty reports.

The decision was announced to employees by CEO Georgy Gabunia on April 28. "This day has come... Five years of living together have come to an end. I am forced to leave the house, which I have been a part of since the first day of its creation. Today, a difficult stage has ended," journalist Irakli Bakhtadze wrote on Facebook.

Another Mtavari employee, Tetya Tsotonava, called the channel's closure a "last-hope" disaster: "After leaving Rustavi 2, we had to start everything from scratch... I can safely say that we created the coolest channel! Each employee risked their health and life, doing everything for the main thing (Mtavari)."

Neither the Mtavari team nor Gabunia have made any official statements yet.

Previously, Giorgi Gabunia has repeatedly spoken about the problems that have arisen at the company over the past few months. He accused co-director Gogi (Georgi) Kurdadze — a representative of businessman Zaza Okuashvili — of creating an artificial financial crisis.

On January 27, the broadcaster issued a statement saying that the channel's co-founder, Zaza Okuashvili, was "systematically following the path characteristic of the Russian regime" and was gradually closing the channel. Gabunia believes that Okuashvili is thus participating in the mass violence of the Georgian Dream party.

Since February 15, Mtavari has been broadcasting in a limited mode. Only TV series have been aired. Live programs have been stopped.

Mtavari began broadcasting on September 9, 2019. It was founded by the former CEO of Rustavi 2 TV channel, Nika Gvaramia.

In May 2020, Mtavari owners Nika Gvaramia and Kakhaber Anjaparidze transferred 40% of their shares to companies founded by Zaza Okuashvili. In February 2024, Gvaramia transferred 12% of the shares to his wife and stepped down as CEO. The position was taken by Giorgi Gabunia.