On March 31, pro-government media outlets, including the information agency INFO9, NewsHub, Digest, and Exclusive Media, published information cards claiming that during the live broadcast of the protest on March 31, TV Pirveli excluded from the footage the banners supporting Mikheil Saakashvili that were placed behind President Salome Zourabichvili.
The circulated posts are manipulative and falsely assert that TV Pirveli deliberately erased the banners supporting Mikheil Saakashvili from its broadcast. During Zourabichvili’s speech at the March 31 protest, the live broadcast alternated between footage shot from different angles. The pro-Saakashvili banners appeared several times during Zourabichvili’s speech.
TV Pirveli covered the March 31 protest, titled “The People’s Spring Is Coming,” in its 8 PM main news broadcast. Zourabichvili’s speech began at around 9 PM (TV Pirveli’s YouTube live timestamp: 01:05:03), during which the banners in support of Mikheil Saakashvili were also visible in the background.
Zourabichvili’s speech lasted about 30 minutes. Throughout the live broadcast of the speech, various camera angles were used, alternating shots of Zourabichvili and the protest.
In side-angle shots, two large pro-Saakashvili banners were not visible. However, it is important to note that in the frame used by the media in their information cards, which allegedly proves that TV Pirveli erased the banners, other posters in support of Saakashvili can be seen.
In the side-angle footage, two large pro-Saakashvili banners are not visible. However, it is noteworthy that in the frame used by the media on the information card, intended to suggest that TV Pirveli removed the banners from the broadcast, other posters supporting Saakashvili can still be seen. Additionally, several banners of Zviad Gamsakhurdia are also visible.
Banners supporting Saakashvili are also seen in the final part of Zourabichvili’s speech (around 01:26:21 of the YouTube live stream).
On March 31, marking the 34th anniversary of Georgia’s referendum on the restoration of state independence, another protest rally was held on Rustaveli Avenue. Protesters once again voiced their opposition to the political course chosen by the Georgian Dream party. Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, addressed the crowd gathered in front of the parliament and announced the creation of a resistance platform. The platform will be open to all pro-European parties and groups. The main demands of the protest remain the scheduling of new parliamentary elections and the release of those detained during demonstrations. Activists near the parliament displayed banners in support of both Mikheil Saakashvili and individuals arrested at the protests.
Archive links: Information agency INFO9, NewsHub, Digest, Exclusive Media
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