All of the shops at Lilo fair selling satellite dish antennas are closed, the Georgian daily Rezonansi reports. “According to the traders small entrepreneurs have been seized antennas, reportedly to be given back after the elections,” reads the print edition of July 17. 

Reporting to Kakheti Information Center one of the traders said some strangers accompanied with the administration representatives and security police seized 67 antennas.

“I have been told in exchange for the cost of antennas and receivers I would not be paying the rent. The administration of Lilo fair did not confirm the seizure of antennas, Maestro TV though released the footage featuring locked shops.

Reporting to the Rezonansi Global TV’s marketing manager Zurab Bazlidze said in this very case Maestro, Channel 9 or Global TV antennas are not being particularly concerned, to prevent population from buying and using satellite dish antennas is the issue.

Following the request by the Prosecutor’s Office court first seized Global TV and afterwards Maestro TV-owned tens of thousands of antennas. Both companies, the Prosecutor’s Office alleged, acted, through voter-buying, in favor of the opposition coalition Georgian Dream.