On October 29th, our Georgian broadcast partner Mtavari TV aired Putin’s Kiss - the first of fifty five films dubbed in Georgian that will air on the channel over the coming months. 

Mtavari is an independent channel that prides itself on bringing news to Georgia that reflects the sentiment of the people - not just those in power. In a media landscape dominated by politically partisan TV channels, Mtavari stands out as a platform that openly criticizes the actions of the Georgian government and provides a voice for the opposition.

With seven out of ten Georgians relying on television as their primary source of information, the role of Mtavari Channel becomes even more crucial.

“We're very proud that Mtavari is our first Broadcast partner in Georgia, " says Why Stories producer Mathilde Kirsten, "It's a strong channel with beliefs that are very much aligned with The Why, and it’s so important for us to support smaller independent broadcasters like Mtavari.

As a nation, Georgia is facing challenges that make our partnership especially important. One of the government’s proposed new legal initiatives is the 'Foreign Agents Law' or the 'Russian Law'. The law would enforce that individuals, civil society organisations and media outlets that receive 20% of their funding from abroad would be required to register as an 'agent of foreign influence' with the Georgian Justice Ministry, making them subject to constant inspections, massive fines and even prison time if they fail to comply.

Rights groups have highlighted the likelihood that the law (inspired by a similar law in Russia) was designed to make it easier for the government to discredit its opponents. Declining interest in politics among young adults also poses a significant threat to the country's democratic future, with 62% of young people in Georgia claiming that they are not interested in politics.

Some of the other titles Mtavari will be airing include Favela Frontlines, Mumbai Disconnected, Undercover in the Alt-right, Detropia and For God, Tsar, and the Fatherland.

We are proud to work with a channel that is committed to promoting democracy and freedom of speech, and we are  excited to see how Mtavari's audience will respond to The Why's films!