Adjara TV and Radio Company (Adjara TV)

Established in 2013, Adjara TV and Radio Company serves audiences in Georgia’s autonomous republic of Adjara, a strategically important Black Sea region bordering Turkey. The broadcaster operates television and radio services and has long been regarded as one of the country’s most vibrant platforms for pluralistic debate.

Media assets

Television: Adjara TV

Radio: Adjara Radio

State Media Matrix Typology

Ownership and governance

Formally, Adjara TV functions under the umbrella of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB). For much of its existence, it maintained a degree of structural autonomy as a legally distinct entity governed by a five-member Council of Advisors, three appointed by the ruling party and two by the opposition.

That arrangement came to an abrupt end in June 2023, when parliament approved legislation dissolving the council and consolidating Adjara TV under GPB’s direct control. This reform effectively reduced the scope of its institutional independence, placing the station firmly within GPB’s governance framework. Representation of Adjara within GPB is now confined to three members on GPB’s nine-member Board of Trustees, all appointed by the Adjaran government. The GPB itself is currently overseen by Vasil Maghlaperidze, a former deputy chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, a political pedigree that continues to raise questions about partisan influence over public media.

Source of funding and budget

Adjara TV is financed through GPB’s budget. Georgian legislation guarantees it at least 15 percent of GPB’s annual budget allocation, ensuring a stable, if politically dependent, funding stream. Despite this statutory safeguard, critics argue that such dependence entrenches Tbilisi’s control over regional broadcasting.

Editorial independence

Although Adjara TV is bound by a Code of Conduct enshrining editorial independence, impartiality, and diversity, in practice these principles are upheld unevenly. The broadcaster has historically enjoyed a reputation for relative autonomy compared with other Georgian media outlets, and its programming has often been singled out by civil society for providing a platform to opposition voices.

Nevertheless, sustained political pressure has chipped away at this record. The most visible turning point came in April 2019, when the Georgian Dream-dominated board controversially dismissed Director Natia Kapanadze, sparking widespread domestic and international condemnation. Watchdogs such as the Coalition for Media Advocacy have since documented persistent interference, alleging that journalists are harassed or disciplined for politically inconvenient reporting.

August 2025