Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili held a regular briefing with the media yesterday. VK asked two Georgian political scientists Iosif Tsiskarishvili and Georgi Nodia to comment on the outcomes of the meeting. Both experts agreed it was doubtful that any of the participants were left satisfied.
Iosif Tsiskarishvili noted that the prime minister "remains true to his promise to hold monthly meetings with journalists. He never missed a month." The expert underlined that previously the prime minister had never voiced any discontent with the media coverage, and that is why the last meeting stood out. Ivanishvili made comments on the way particular journalists and media cover certain events. According to the expert, the main reason for such a change is the on-going electoral campaign.
Georgi Nodia drew attention to the tone of the prime minister's talk and the way he gave the journalists present unsolicited advice. Nodia believes that the cause of this behaviour is Ivanishvili's irritation with the criticism against him. "Obviously, he is disappointed by the fact that journalists and commentators who used to support the national movement are now beginning to criticize it, this was obviously annoying for him," the expert said.
