On February 24, 2026, the United Kingdom imposed financial sanctions on the Georgian Dream-controlled TV companies Imedi and POSTV as part of the Russia sanctions regime. The TV companies are accused of deliberately spreading false information about Russia’s war in Ukraine.

By imposing the sanctions, the British government declared Imedi and POSTV to be parties to the information war in favor of Russia and aim to stop their activities through financial restrictions.

The effect of UK sanctions goes beyond the UK jurisdiction. In order to avoid the risk of secondary sanctions and reputational damage, the entire Western world, and especially the Western financial system, complies with UK sanctions. Since the Georgian banking system is part of the Western system, it is forced to obey its rules if it wants to remain in business. In this case, this means that all Georgian banks (and not just TBC and Bank of Georgia, listed on the London Stock Exchange) will refuse banking services to the sanctioned TV companies.

Therefore, as a result of the UK sanctions, Imedi and POSTV will face the following specific problems:

1. Accounts and funds in Georgian banks will be frozen – Georgian banks are directly obliged to do this by the regulations in force in Georgia. Specifically, the National Bank’s Order No. 208/04 of August 4, 2023, obliges banks to comply with the requirements of the sanctions regimes imposed by the US, the EU, and the UK against Russia and Belarus. It is under this sanctions regime that Imedi and Postiv were sanctioned.

2. They will not receive any income, including income from advertising – Georgian banks are prohibited from conducting any type of transaction for the sanctioned TV companies. Therefore, Imedi and POSTV will not receive funds from commercial advertisements broadcast on air, and all possible bypasses will be perceived by the relevant British government agency as evasion of sanctions.

3. Any provider of advertising or revenue, whether a business or a state institution, will face the risk of secondary sanctions – a businessman or company that pays money to sanctioned TV companies, or helps them receive money in a roundabout way, will face the risk of secondary sanctions.

The risk of secondary sanctions will also apply to those state institutions (ministries, sub-agencies, government non-profits, state-owned enterprises, etc.) that decide to place advertising on Imedi and POSTV or otherwise provide them with financial assistance.

4. They will be unable to pay salaries to employees – Being cut off from the banking system means that the company will no longer be able to pay salaries. In the event that TV companies resort to non-banking means of payment, this will also be perceived as evasion of sanctions.

5. Grounds for investigation into money laundering and tax evasion may arise – All persons participating in the financial rescue schemes of sanctioned TV companies (including employees who may receive compensation through alternative means and methods) will be subject to possible money laundering and tax evasion investigations.

6. Employees will have difficulty obtaining loans and may be denied banking services altogether – Even in the case of alternative payment of salaries, employees will always be in an increased risk group from Georgian banks, since their source of income will be a sanctioned company. After determining the source of income, which is a standard procedure, the bank may refuse, for example, to issue a loan or provide services at all.

7. Employees will have to hide their connection to Imedi and POSTV in order to avoid problems – Employees will have to constantly distance themselves from these organizations, as they may be refused at any time, especially if they travel to Western countries, participate in events, use services, or initiate business cooperation.

8. TV companies will not be able to obtain bank loans or other banking services – Due to the suspension of banking services, sanctioned TV companies will no longer be able to obtain loans from any bank and thus maintain their operations, and the bank that risks providing them with a loan or other service will be at risk of secondary sanctions.

9. Cannot receive any other type of financing – Imedi TV has been a loss-making company for years, requiring more than 50 million GEL in subsidies (in the form of loans) per year from the companies of its former owner Irakli Rukhadze and Georgian Dream chair, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. Imedi TV had accumulated a debt of 391 million GEL in the form of such loans by the end of 2024. Due to the ban on banking transactions, sanctioned TV companies will no longer be able to receive such financing; and if financing through roundabout means continues, then the financiers will directly be at risk of secondary sanctions.

10. They will not be able to sell or rent property – Imedi and POSTV will also not be able to use banking transactions to sell or rent any movable or immovable property they own.

11. They will not be able to buy or rent equipment – ​​they will have difficulty purchasing the equipment needed for broadcasting, especially from abroad; as well as maintaining this equipment and purchasing software.

12. They will lose licenses to use Western entertainment programs, and will not be able to obtain licenses for new programs.

13. They will no longer be able to purchase the right to broadcast foreign TV series – sanctioned TV companies will most likely be refused when it comes to purchase of foreign series (except, for example, Russian, Belarusian, Iranian or North Korean series) and/or will not be able to make bank payments for their purchase.

14. All broadcasting-related services that sanctioned TV companies receive from Western companies or Georgian companies with Western connections will be reviewed.

15. They will lose accreditation for journalistic activities in Western countries – Journalists and representatives of Imedi and POSTV will no longer be able to carry out journalistic activities in Western countries. Where special accreditation is required, they will not be able to obtain it.

16. They will be restricted from using social media / will not be able to run advertisements – their use of social media services, such as Facebook and Youtube, will be questioned; as well as the purchase of advertising services on these platforms.

17. They will not be able to pay for utility services – Due to the ban on banking transactions and services, Imedi and POSTV will have difficulties paying utility bills.

18. They will have difficulty receiving and paying for any other services necessary for the normal functioning of a business, such as: insurance, telecommunications services, legal and accounting services.

Assistance to Imedi and POSTV may lead to sanctions

It is important to understand that any assistance in circumventing the sanctions imposed by the UK may become the basis for secondary sanctions. This is monitored on an ongoing basis by the relevant UK government agency.

The UK sanction also means that Imedi and POSTV will now be the target of worldwide scrutiny by investigative journalists and other organizations working on sanctions, meaning that the identities of those individuals and companies who help sanctioned TV companies circumvent sanctions will be known.

Therefore, any Georgian company and individual must refrain from providing any funds, services or benefits to Imedi and POSTV in any form, directly or indirectly. Otherwise, all these individuals or companies may face the risk of secondary sanctions.