Georgia's PIK TV channel closed down

Georgia's First Information Caucasian (PIK) TV channel has been closed down, media report.

PIK belonged to Georgian Public Broadcaster and was the only Tbilisi based TV channel in the Russian language.

PIK, which was launched in January 2010, was intended to counter pro-Moscow reporting about Georgia. It broadcasted throughout the Caucasus and the European part of Russia. However, it has been widely criticized - including by Ivanishvili - for its blanket anti-Russian views and for its uncritical support of Saakashvili, Radio Free Europe informs.

Journalists of the TV channel went on strike right before the decision to close the channel was made. They broadcasted news programmes Monday night without sound, the Democracy and Freedom Watch reported.