“Moambe” News Program of First Channel will sum up the year of 2014 in the main news bulletin of the last day of 2014 at 8 PM this evening. Signing of Association Agreement with European Union, ratification of the document, Wales Summit, visits of President, Prime Minister, political events, detention of high-ranking officials of Defense Ministry, the ruling team without Free Democrats and most memorable moments of 2014 will be covered by “Moambe.”   

“Iveria” Society has addressed Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office with an urge to ban broadcasting of Russian TV channels. The statement sent to Prosecutor Giorgi Badashvili says that a threat of information war is looming ahead. “Russia’s military aggression has been accompanied by an information war since 1990, aimed at undermining our sovereignty, statehood and independence.The information war against Georgia is a real war, which has been underway using all of its trademark methods. This war represents a constituent of a hybrid war parallel to intelligence and terrorist operations as well as economic and financial wars.Moscow actively uses Первый канал, Russia Today, НТВ, Россия-24, ВГТРК, Голос России and other channels in this information war.In this case we face disinformation, informational aggression and a blockade which results in controlling people’s minds and lobbying Russia’s interests,”- reads the statement.“Iveria” Society feels the Georgian government needs to use all available measures to ensure Georgia’s informational security. 

Journalist Koka Kandiashvili is returning for work to television. Kandiashvili told journalists at a press conference today that he had been banned from TV for 10 years, but now he was establishing his own studio. According to Kandiashvili, his projects will be offered to various TV companies including Maestro TV. He also talked about the latest developments at Maesto TV and said that its low rating had caused changes at the station. 

The non-governmental organization “Young Lawyers” awarded Informational Service of First Channel of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) for the most balanced and reliable information.The NGO also presented the report of 2014 activities.

The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office will do its best to convince Interpol to issue so called ‘red notice’ and put ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili in its wanted list, chief prosecutor Giorgi Badashvili said during his interview with Kviris Palitra. According to him, the former President is charged with the following: embezzlement; the Girgvliani case; violent crackdown on the November 7 (2007) protests, raid on the Imedi TV company’s headquarters; misappropriation of Badri Patarkatshvili’s property and armed attack on MP Valery Gelashvili.

Aleksandre Tchikaidze, Georgia’s Minister of Internal Affairs awarded journalists and ordinary citizens as winners of the competition held within the framework of “No Violence” campaign. MIA launched campaign “No Violence” on November 25. UN Women organization gave laptop computers to the winners. Journalists were revealed in different nominations. Salome Kokishvili, a journalist of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) was named as the winner for the best TV story. 

SIS terrorists convicted of car bombings in Baghdad have been forced to face their victims' families in an Iraqi reality television show. Shackled and flanked by armed military officers, the men are returned to the scene of the bombings carried out across the ravaged city last month. There, they must face the wrath of their victims' families as camera crews film the heartbreaking exchange for the programme, In the Grip of the Law. In one scene, convicted bomber Haider Ali Motar wails as a man in a wheelchair spits verbal abuse towards him.  Others tell the 21-year-old they will 'tear him to pieces' from behind a barbed wire fence. The show's presenter said it had been designed to demonstrate those responsible for terrorism offences are brought to justice, while others working on the programme hoped it would deter criminals from re-offending. 'We wanted to produce a program that offers clear and conclusive evidence, with the complete story, presented and shown to Iraqi audiences,' Ahmed Hassan said, http://www.dailymail.co.uk reported on December 22.  

Major foreign news outlets such as Euronews, The Telegraph, NBC News and Radio Australia, have taken an interest in the recent brawl that took place in Georgia’s parliament. The fistfight broke out when an argument over the composition of Georgian delegations in international institutions turned violent. Insults and accusations were traded, with MPs quickly coming to blows, The Telegraph claims. According to Euronews, the fight between politicians broke out over how the make-up of Georgian delegations in international institutions had to be decided.“This drew insults and more swearing before the country’s elected representatives jumped in, starting a free-for-all.Some MPs went as far as ripping out microphones and using them as weapons. Medics were called to treat three injured politicians,’’- Euronews says. Source: InterPressNews

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili answered about 50 questions of journalists during today’s press conference. PM criticized opponents, team members and mass media representatives. He also talked about political situation in the country, opposition, former co-mates and role of the media. 

The Transatlantic community paved the way for Russian aggression well before the Ukraine crisis. says Estonia’s President, Toomas Ilves told The American Interest.I would argue that it no longer held after the 2008 invasion of Georgia, but the rest of the Transatlantic community did not buy that. In fact, they let it slide, I would say, first by breaking off negotiations over the EU-Russia partnership as long as Russian troops remained. Then, a month later, with no change in status of foreign troops, Europe claimed, “Thank God common sense prevailed.” That was 2008, so we’ve hit the snooze button a few times; but now, finally, we have the wake-up call.We have allowed aggression to stand in Georgia, having done nothing and instead gone off on this “peace, love, Woodstock” idea. We’re now in a situation where we have genuine aggression, the collapse of the post-Cold War order, and we see all that on the 25th anniversary of the annus mirabilis of 1989—when we should be celebrating the neo-Hegelian triumph of the Fukuyaman view of the inevitability of liberal democracy. I too have believed all along that we were heading there. Unfortunately, what we’re seeing right now is that it can be turned around. When you have a collapse of order, you can expect all kinds of things,” Ilves stated.  

News from the midnight meeting - According to the journalists and producers of Maestro TV the reason of their protest and quitting is the return of journalist Koka Kandiashvili to Maestro TV with his own program.The team of “Maestro’s” 9PM news bulletin “Tskhrian” held a press conference today. Journalists recalled the statements made by TV management and talked about change of TV ideology. They also explained their decision by feasible changes in television broadcast scheduling. 

Discussions about changes proposed to be made into Law on Broadcasting at the sitting of the parliamentary Branch Economy and Economic Policy Committee transformed into a dispute and verbal clash. Representatives of TV Companies were taking part in discussions of the project. The issue of retention of sponsorship obtaining right by Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) was followed by debates and was objected by private television channels. Nika Gvaramia, head “Rustavi-2” TV Company and Gia Zhorzholiani, Majority MP even had a clash and got engaged in exchange of verbal insult during the discussions. 

“The Georgian Dream ruling party is making national vision become reality” is the headline of an article published in the 8-page advertising supplement of New York Times.  Former Education Minister of Georgia Kakha Lomaia publishes a passage from the article on his Fecebook page where it is said that the amount of pension in the country had increased by 50% for the latest 2 years. The fact was followed by political statements in Georgia. Opposition claims that the government is spending thousands of USD on making lies public. The ruling team representatives assert that they don’t know about the person who paid the money for the article. NYT says that the material is prepared by an advertising agent with no participation of the newspaper staff. 

The briefing of Nikoloz Antidze, Head of National Agency of Cultural Heritage Protection turned out to be noisy earlier this afternoon. Antidze was meeting with representatives of the media when members of “Sakdrisi Rescue Committee” intruded into the conference hall and shouted “destructor” at his direction. Antidze was forced to leave the hall. After disrupted press conference he said that he was not going to cooperate in the form of violence.   Members of “Sakdrisi Rescue Committee” are now meeting with head of President’s Administration. 

Members of “Sakdrisi Rescue Committee” held a protest at the building of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB). They objected to resumption of works at Sakdrisi ancient gold mine by RMG Gold Company and insisted on allocation of live air.  The Committee members claimed that explosions were heard on Sakdrisi-Kachagiani mine territory. The blasts were heard in the nearby village. Archeologists also demanded that the works were stopped immediately.  

The documentary studio of the First Channel of Georgian Public Broadcasting (GPB) begins working on a new project. The film tells about travelling adventures of the British Supreme Commissioner Colonel Claude Bob Stock in Georgia in 1920-21. The shooting team of the documentary studio was in England during 2 weeks and obtained valuable materials. The presentation of the new project was held today. The documentary will be on the air next television season. 

Georgia’s Foreign Ministry has a new spokesperson. Minister of Foreign Affairs has presented Davit Kereselidze on the post today. Kereselidze worked at the Ministry during the years, he headed the Department of Foreign Economic Relations. Also, he was the Ambassador of Norway, Iceland and Denmark. He was alternative director of International Center for Black Sea Studies.

On November 17, the Public Defender hosted an event dedicated to the International Day for Tolerance. The Council of National Minorities and the Council of Religions of the Public Defender traditionally awarded “supporters of tolerance” – persons, organizations, media sources and public officials that contributed significantly to development of tolerance culture in Georgia in 2014.Supporter of Tolerance Award was granted to Zurab Dvali, Producer of "National Moambe" - Minority-Language programme of the Georgian Public Broadcaster(GPB).

Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) is working out a new strategy. The main document of the organization will represent an action plan for the development of the channel. The public opinion will be considered during elaborating of the strategic objectives, structural changes, programming and many other components. The large-scale survey of audience to find out what kind of genre and thematic programs public wishes is already being conducted.The new strategy will meet the new challenges. What is a multimedia platform? - The report of Mariam Tsarelashvili tells about the grand plans.

The final stage of a Television Project of First Channel – “My Book” is coming to an end. The voting process for the favorite literature work finished today. The favorite of the viewers, out of 15 finalist books, will be revealed on Sunday, November 16. The final episode will begin on the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) live at 21:15 with participation of everyone, who supported their favorite books during several months.