Two days ago, the information agency “Timer” received an email from the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media of the Russian Federation. In this message, the Kremlin regime threatens that if the mentioned institution’s demand is not met, the website of our agency will be blocked on Russian territory.Before sharing the details of this ultimatum, let me tell you that “Timer” will be the first Georgian agency to face Putin’s repressions, meaning that “Timer” will be blocked in the Russian Federation.
Interestingly, “Timer” is the agency through which many Georgians living in Russia, including refugees, receive timely and objective updates about events in Georgia. It is also worth noting that “Timer” is practically the only Georgian online media outlet exclusively covering events happening in temporarily occupied Abkhazia.
It seems that this is precisely what is bothering the Kremlin, and the decision to “silence” “Timer” stems from this. In fact, if we carefully observe the events in Georgia over the past three months, it becomes evident that the “Dream” government is employing Putin’s methods. For instance, they arrested the influential founders of online publications “Batumelebi” and “Netgazeti,” Mzia Amaglobeli. This appears to signal that all media outlets refusing to “bow down” to the mode will share the same fate as Mzia Amaglobeli. And even if they don’t arrest all of us journalists, at the very least, they will silence us.
Hopefully, this reality won’t take root in Georgia. In the meantime, let’s return to the email sent to “Timer” from the Russian Federation.To summarize, Putin accuses “Timer” of disseminating information in 2022 that is prohibited on Russian territory. Specifically, the accusation concerns an official statement from Ukrainian authorities after Russia invaded Ukraine. According to this statement, Ukrainian forces destroyed Russian marines in Donbas and killed their brigade commander
As mentioned, this information was published by “Timer” on November 15, 2022, based on the Strategic Communications Department of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It was official information, not a rumor or an unverified source. Nevertheless, Putin’s subordinates plan to “punish” “Timer” and state that if the above-mentioned news is not removed from our website within 24 hours of receiving their notice, “Timer” will be blocked in the Russian Federation.
Russian special services are scrutinizing every Georgian media outlet, and since they are not yet able to shut us down or arrest us, they are resorting to punitive measures such as banning us on Russian territory. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Kremlin instructed the “Dream” government to carry out their orders, prompting the oligarch’s team to begin shutting down Georgian media outlets.
In any case, “Timer,” despite Putin’s threats, has no intention of removing the mentioned news from its website. As a result, “Timer” will likely be banned in the Russian Federation, becoming the first Georgian media outlet to be blocked on Russian soil.
There is a saying: “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” By banning “Timer” in the Russian Federation, many Georgians living in Russia will no longer be able to receive accurate and objective information from Georgia, specifically from temporarily occupied Abkhazia.
Putin’s goal, of course, is to ensure that people do not have access to truthful information and fall victim to propaganda. It’s worth noting that Putin previously banned Facebook in Russia. However, the portion of the Russian population that refuses to accept dictatorship still finds ways to access Facebook.
Thus, dictators’ goals don’t always justify the means!
Berdia Kalandia
Information Agency “Timer” / www.timer.ge