The rector of GTU, Academician Davit Gurgenidze, won the court case against ‘TV Pirveli’ and ‘Nodar Meladze’s Saturday.
31-01-2026
“Nodar Meladze was ordered to retract defamatory statements disseminated against the Rector of the Georgian Technical University, David Gurgenidze, specifically: ‘The millions that the Technical University received from the sale of property belonging to the public should have been used to construct a new building for the institute and to equip laboratories there, but this did not happen… scientists were placed in one small room… while the university’s property is decreasing, the personal property of the rector (David Gurgenidze) is increasing…’,” - stated Judge Ketevan Kurtskhaliya of the Civil Cases Panel of the Tbilisi City Court in her decision of January 30, 2026, by which she fully satisfied the lawsuit filed by the Rector of GTU, Academician David Gurgenidze.
On November 25, 2025, Academician David Gurgenidze filed a lawsuit with the Tbilisi City Court, demanding that the television company retract false information it had disseminated.
According to the Head of the Legal Assurance and Strategic Development Service of GTU, Judge Ketevan Kurtskhaliya issued an important legal decision concerning media responsibility and the protection of the reputation of a public figure.
As Davit Khvedelidze noted, the decision once again emphasizes that freedom of the media cannot be used as a basis for spreading false and unverified information, and that accusations against public figures must be grounded in verified facts and objective evidence.
“The decision of the Tbilisi City Court constitutes an important legal act that clearly defines the scope of media responsibility and the legal standards for protecting the reputation of a public figure. The court reasonably determined that the specific statements disseminated by TV Pirveli’s program ‘Nodar Meladze’s Saturday’ were not based on verified factual circumstances and therefore contained elements of defamation. The decision also reaffirms that freedom of speech and expression one of the fundamental principles of a democratic society is not absolute and cannot be exercised at the expense of another person’s honor and dignity. The legal position formed by the court fully aligns both with Georgia’s constitutional framework and with the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, which defines the permissible limits of criticism of public figures based on criteria of factual accuracy and public interest.
It is especially important that the court focused on the proper allocation of the burden of proof and determined that allegations disseminated by the media must be supported by reliable sources and objective evidence. This decision creates an important legal precedent that will contribute in the future both to strengthening professional journalistic standards and to the reasoned legal protection of the reputation of public institutions and their leaders,” - stated Davit Khvedelidze.
According to the Head of the Internal Audit Service of GTU, Tamaz Urtmelidze, on November 22, 2025, the program “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday” aired on TV Pirveli, during which the program’s host Nodar Meladze and journalist Maka Chikhladze deliberately disseminated disinformation against the Georgian Technical University and its rector, Academician David Gurgenidze. He stated that the report concerned the disposal of the building of the Tsotne Mirtskhulava Research Institute of Water Management of GTU and included unsubstantiated insinuations regarding the direct or indirect involvement of the university’s leadership in this matter.
“The program was structured in such a way, and the journalists referred to facts in an assertive manner, that viewers were left with the impression that David Gurgenidze deliberately sold university property, did not intend to build the relevant laboratory facility, and used the millions to increase his personal wealth and enrich himself. The court ordered the defendant to retract this false information in the same form in which it was disseminated. This decision is a clear signal that any attempt to cast a shadow over the activities of an educational institution through disinformation will always receive an appropriate legal response,” - stated Tamaz Urtmelidze.
By the decision of Judge Ketevan Kurtskhaliya of the Civil Cases Panel of the Tbilisi City Court, Maka Chikhladze was ordered to retract the defamatory statements disseminated against the Rector of the Georgian Technical University, David Gurgenidze. The defendants were also ordered, within one month after the court decision enters into legal force, to issue the retraction during the broadcast of “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday” on Saturday between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Additionally, the defendants were ordered to pay a symbolic amount of 1 GEL in favor of the plaintiff.
On November 25, 2025, Academician David Gurgenidze filed a lawsuit with the Tbilisi City Court, demanding that the television company retract false information it had disseminated.
According to the Head of the Legal Assurance and Strategic Development Service of GTU, Judge Ketevan Kurtskhaliya issued an important legal decision concerning media responsibility and the protection of the reputation of a public figure.
As Davit Khvedelidze noted, the decision once again emphasizes that freedom of the media cannot be used as a basis for spreading false and unverified information, and that accusations against public figures must be grounded in verified facts and objective evidence.
“The decision of the Tbilisi City Court constitutes an important legal act that clearly defines the scope of media responsibility and the legal standards for protecting the reputation of a public figure. The court reasonably determined that the specific statements disseminated by TV Pirveli’s program ‘Nodar Meladze’s Saturday’ were not based on verified factual circumstances and therefore contained elements of defamation. The decision also reaffirms that freedom of speech and expression one of the fundamental principles of a democratic society is not absolute and cannot be exercised at the expense of another person’s honor and dignity. The legal position formed by the court fully aligns both with Georgia’s constitutional framework and with the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, which defines the permissible limits of criticism of public figures based on criteria of factual accuracy and public interest.
It is especially important that the court focused on the proper allocation of the burden of proof and determined that allegations disseminated by the media must be supported by reliable sources and objective evidence. This decision creates an important legal precedent that will contribute in the future both to strengthening professional journalistic standards and to the reasoned legal protection of the reputation of public institutions and their leaders,” - stated Davit Khvedelidze.
According to the Head of the Internal Audit Service of GTU, Tamaz Urtmelidze, on November 22, 2025, the program “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday” aired on TV Pirveli, during which the program’s host Nodar Meladze and journalist Maka Chikhladze deliberately disseminated disinformation against the Georgian Technical University and its rector, Academician David Gurgenidze. He stated that the report concerned the disposal of the building of the Tsotne Mirtskhulava Research Institute of Water Management of GTU and included unsubstantiated insinuations regarding the direct or indirect involvement of the university’s leadership in this matter.
“The program was structured in such a way, and the journalists referred to facts in an assertive manner, that viewers were left with the impression that David Gurgenidze deliberately sold university property, did not intend to build the relevant laboratory facility, and used the millions to increase his personal wealth and enrich himself. The court ordered the defendant to retract this false information in the same form in which it was disseminated. This decision is a clear signal that any attempt to cast a shadow over the activities of an educational institution through disinformation will always receive an appropriate legal response,” - stated Tamaz Urtmelidze.
By the decision of Judge Ketevan Kurtskhaliya of the Civil Cases Panel of the Tbilisi City Court, Maka Chikhladze was ordered to retract the defamatory statements disseminated against the Rector of the Georgian Technical University, David Gurgenidze. The defendants were also ordered, within one month after the court decision enters into legal force, to issue the retraction during the broadcast of “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday” on Saturday between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Additionally, the defendants were ordered to pay a symbolic amount of 1 GEL in favor of the plaintiff.
