President Saakashvili Considers Taking First Caucasian Channel off the Satellite as Very Dangerous Precedent of International Political Censorship

President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili considers taking Georgia's Russian-language First Caucasian Channel off the satellite as a very dangerous precedent of international political censorship, President's spokesperson Manana Manjgaladze said speaking at the February 2 briefing.

The problems encountered in regard to the First Caucasian Channel have gone beyond the borders of country. President of Georgia, considering the fact as a very dangerous precedent of international political censorship, expressed solidarity to the Channel staff and journalists.

"It is pretty much the same thing as if Georgia had cut off BBC or CNN or any French channel under political motives."

According to the statement by President Russian TV channels are being broadcasted in Georgia through western satellites.

"Free opinion was first blocked within Russia; Afterwards Gazprom managed to impose control on many media sources in the west and attempted to create there a parallel reality. And now an alternative opinion is being blocked beyond Russia to allow Gazprom to sell its parallel reality as the only truth," the Georgian President's spokesperson said.

In addition President showed his solidarity to the journalists working for the channel and provided them with guarantee of independence and no meddling into the professional activities.

"The admission of such precedent of capitulation before Gazprom is dangerous first of all for the European democracies themselves," Manjgaladze said.

French-based satellite provider Eutelsat took the First Caucasian Channel off the satellite which is considered, by the Georgian side, as pressure exerted by Russia.

The Georgian Public Broadcasting (GPB) is to sue the French company at Paris Court.