Georgian Communication Commission Suspends Authorization of Russian NTV

The Georgian National Communication Commission has suspended authorization of Russian state company HTB (NTV) Plus.

The commission stated that the decision was made after the company applied to them asking for suspension of the registration process.

HTB now belongs to Gazprom-Media, the largest Russian media holding. It was founded in 2000 as a subsidiary of Russian Gazprom. In 2000, it acquired NTV, the only nationwide state-independent television in Russia of that time.

The partner of HTB Plus in Georgia is LLC Media Group, which was established in September 2017.

Georgia’s Communications Regulatory Commission says that HTB Plus registered under Georgian legislation on September 12, 2016, and received authorization.

On April 10, 2018, the company stated they were getting ready to enter the Georgian market, adding it was not only a business project and that they were considering social media too.

After the statement, a number of Georgian citizens started a petition asking for suspension of authorization of the Russian TV.

The petition authors claimed that the entering of HTB+ on the Georgian market would be equal to “continuation of a propagandist war against Georgia.”

By Thea Morrison

Photo source: Mediasat

Related story:

Russian TV Company HTB to Enter Georgian Market