The Interim Fact-Finding Commission, established to examine the activities of the regime in power from 2003 to 2012, including political officeholders and both current and former political figures affiliated with political parties from 2003 to the present, held a new session dedicated to grave violations of media and freedom of expression. Five journalists were questioned: Giorgi Iakobashvili, Vakhtang Khuzmiashvili, Giorgi Mamatsashvili, Beka Sivsivadze, and Bondo Mdzinarashvili.

Giorgi Iakobashvili spoke about the founding of the news and analytical portal Pressa.ge and the subsequent changes in its ownership. According to him, the outlet, of which he was founder and editor-in-chief, published critical material against the Saakashvili administration. As a result, advertising was prohibited by the ruling party, and grants from NGOs and donor foundations were withheld.

Iakobashvili added that, following a proposal by Mamia Sanadiradze - the then General Director of the telecommunications company Caucasus Online, who also opposed the government - Pressa.ge was merged into the Caucasus Internet Media Group. However, due to pressure from the authorities, both Caucasus Online and Pressa.ge underwent forced ownership changes.

Journalist Vakhtang Khuzmiashvili provided testimony regarding TV company Iberia. He stated that problems began in 2003, after the Rose Revolution, as the new government did not tolerate objective coverage of ongoing developments.

On 18 February 2004, according to Khuzmiashvili, special forces raided the premises of Iberia, newspaper New Epoch, and the news agency Medianews, all part of the same media holding. The raid was allegedly connected to the discovery of printing clichés for excise stamps in the offices of Omega Group, including Iberia. He further stated that when staff from New Epoch attempted to retrieve the printed and seized newspaper edition from the press, they were fired upon by law enforcement officers using firearms. A few months later, Iberia was shut down, the owners relinquished the station’s license, and in return, the Omega Group’s other businesses resumed operation.

Beka Sivsivadze recounted the events of 26 May 2011, during the dispersal of a protest rally. He stated that after identifying himself and his colleague as journalists and requesting safe passage, they were brutally assaulted - shot at with rubber bullets from two metres away and beaten with batons. According to Sivsivadze, he was hit by approximately 40 bullets. Upon learning that they represented the newspaper Asaval-Dasavali, law enforcement officers physically assaulted them again. “This was targeted retribution by Saakashvili”, - he said, noting that he required psychological support for several months and continues to suffer from trauma caused by the incident.

Giorgi Mamatsashvili, another Asaval-Dasavali journalist, also testified. He confirmed that he and Sivsivadze were on Rustaveli Avenue covering the rally. Both sustained such serious injuries that the State Forensics Bureau could not ignore the extent of their trauma. He continues to receive treatment to this day. He also referenced the shutdown of multiple media outlets under the United National Movement, including the Samshoblo publishing house. He described this as an attempt to silence and suppress free speech: “In 2007, the murder of Guram Sharadze marked the beginning of a moral assault on the media and public consciousness”.

Bondo Mdzinarashvili also addressed the issue of media suppression. He recalled that the forced eviction of journalists from Samshoblo left hundreds unemployed and led to the closure of most newspapers based there: “Saakashvili had no use for newspapers publishing critical or analytical content. It was not only about seizing the physical assets of the publishing house - it was revenge against those newspapers”. He added that the former administration also pressured undesirable TV broadcasters by revoking licenses and frequencies.

As announced by Commission Chairperson Tea Tsulukiani, the next session will be held on 21 May: “Tomorrow, we will continue examining media and freedom of expression violations with Irakli Rukhadze, who will also speak on business racketeering under the previous government. On Friday, we will continue this topic by discussing the raid on the Imedi TV station by special forces”.