Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office has launched a criminal investigation against the opposition-leaning channel Formula TV on allegations of “false report” against Goga Khaindrava, Georgian film director and former official known for his pro-government stances.
“The investigation was initiated on the basis of a statement submitted by attorneys representing film director Giorgi (Goga) Khaindrava regarding allegations aired by Formula TV concerning Khaindrava’s possible involvement in criminal activity,” the Prosecutor’s Office said in a June 17 statement.
The investigation is believed to be linked to a report aired by Formula TV’s investigative program Saturday Formula in January 2026. The report alleged that Khaindrava was involved in facilitating the entry of foreign nationals into Georgia in exchange for money.
The nearly six-minute segment relied on testimony from an unidentified source whose face was not visible and whose voice appeared altered. The source alleged that in 2015-2017, Khaindrava assisted citizens of India and Pakistan in entering Georgia by providing lists of individuals to Georgia’s State Security Service, falsely claiming they were needed for film shoots.
The investigation is ongoing under Article 373-1 of the Georgian criminal code, which covers “false report” and is punishable by a fine, community service, corrective labour, or imprisonment for up to four years.
Expressing solidarity with Formula TV, the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics condemned the criminal investigation, describing it as an attempt to intimidate the media and punish investigative journalists.
“The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics considers the decision of the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office to initiate criminal proceedings against Formula TV to be alarming,” the organization said in a statement.
The Charter stressed that source confidentiality is a fundamental principle of journalism and warned against efforts to force reporters to reveal their sources.
It also added that “repressive approaches toward critical media in Georgia are constantly taking on new forms and becoming increasingly severe” and that independent media operate in an “extremely hostile and obstructive environment.”
Also Read:
