British-sanctioned pro-government Georgian TV channel Imedi TV claims it has been banned from operating in the European Parliament for one year.
The broadcaster says it received an official letter from the European Parliament informing it of the decision.
The restriction followed a report aired on the program ‘Imedis Kvira’, an attempt to interview Lithuanian MEP Rasa Juknevičienė, and complaints from Czech MEP Markéta Gregorová, Imedi says.
“We would like to express our concern regarding the proportionality of the decision,” Imedi stated. “The one-year restriction is a particularly severe measure that significantly affects the media’s ability to cover the activities of the European Parliament.”
The channel also says the Moldovan authorities denied accreditation to Imedi, Rustavi 2 and POSTV to cover the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers meeting in Chisinau.
On February 24, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office imposed financial sanctions on Imedi and POSTV.
The British government said both channels had disseminated “deliberately misleading information” about Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine to audiences mainly in Georgia.
London claimed the broadcasters promoted narratives supporting policies or actions that “destabilize or undermine Ukraine, or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine.”
