Georgia: Journalist Mako Jabua Accuses TV Station Director Of Sexual Harassment – CFWIJ Commends Her Bravery

Location: Georgia, Tbilisi
Date: March 22, 2023

Several women accuse TV Station director Shalva Ramishvili of sexual harassment. Journalist Mako Jabua says he abused his position of power and made advances toward her during a job interview. Her story spread online inspiring more women to speak of their unpleasant encounters with Shalva Ramishvili. In 2018, TV presenter Tatia Samkharadze successfully sued Ramishvili for sexual harassment. The Coalition For Women In Journalism applauds women for speaking out. It takes immense courage to publicly address issues of sexual harassment, especially when it involves a powerful person. We stand in solidarity with Mako Jabua, Gvantsa Budaghashvili, and Anano Iashvili and demand that Ramishvili be held responsible for his misconduct.

On March 21, news reports emerged of allegations of sexual harassment against the Director of state TV station POS TV Shalva Ramishvili. Mako Jabua, a journalist at Tabula, posted a description of her encounter with Ramishvili on Facebook. She recalls how the Director made advances toward her, turned on pornography, and commented on her appearance when she was invited to meet him for a job interview. Ramishvili denies the allegations.

Jabua explains that the incident happened seven or eight years ago when she was desperately looking for work. “I always wanted to be a journalist and unfortunately, all my attempts were in vain,” she writes. “A close friend of mine worked with Shalva Ramishvili (he didn't have a bad experience, otherwise he wouldn't have put me in the wolf's corner) he told me that he is going to do something for television and is looking for footage, I will tell him about you and maybe he will call you for an interview. I was also happy. I saw a chance. I agreed. I went to the apartment (I heard some things about Shalva, but I am a bold and courageous person, I always hope for myself, so I was not "scared" to be alone with him).”

Mako Jabua recalls how the interview began normally but then the tone changed. The TV director suggested that because she had a "non-standard and bold appearance (red hair and piercings),” perhaps she should make a TV program where she invites guests to a pool and asks them embarrassing questions about their porn preferences. Jabua writes that Ramishvili turned on pornography, asked whether she was turned on and if she would have sex with him. Jabua told few people about the incident before her post saying she only feels ready to speak about it now. 

More accusations against Ramishvili

Following Jabua’s post, Gvantsa Budaghashvili published screenshots of her correspondence with Ramishvili. She dates the incident back to 2018 when POSTV was an online television station. According to Budaghashvili, Ramishvili wrote to her and invited her to interview for a job at the station. "He told me that I have a special charm and I can achieve many things thanks to my charm (I don't remember exactly how he said it, so I can't quote him). I felt uncomfortable and left,” she wrote.

Budaghashvili says that Ramishvili wrote to her and told her that if she wanted to start working, she should come and meet him again. "I came. He was already drunk and, with all his being, directly demanded to talk about my fetishes. Of course, I left in a few minutes, and it was already clear who I was dealing with, and I realized that the path to this "job" led to bed," Gvantsa writes.

A few hours after the publication of Mako Jabua's post, Anano Yashvili, an actor in the Batumi Drama Theater, also spoke about her experience with Ramishvili. According to her, an incident of sexual harassment happened 10 years ago when she was an 18-year-old student who wanted to work in television.

"He personally called me, called me for an interview,” she wrote. “He warned me in advance to come dressed provocatively, that's his character. What and how he spoke during the interview and what I went through, I will not tell about it at this stage. Months later, he called me again with a new offer, after rejecting the previous one, and for years he periodically sends me hysterical friend requests, then cancels, then sends, then cancels," 

Anano says it took her many years to heal after this incident. "18-year-old girls who dream of fame, know that people in similar professions (producers, directors, and generally influential types) often use their status and experience. Don't be silent, definitely speak up, and don't let anyone treat you like that", says Iashvili.

Shalva Ramishvili has denied all allegations. POSTV says the accusations against their director are an attack against the TV station by “liberal groups”. They claim that they are the target of a “dirty campaign” that aims to harm their ratings. 

TV Journalist sues Rashivili for sexual harassment

In 2018, reporter and actress Tatia Samkharadze won a court battle against Shalva Ramishvili. He was charged with sexually harassing Samkharadze when he was her boss at Imedi TV in 2016. It was a landmark trial in Georgia as it was the first sexual harassment case ever tried in the country. Samkharadze said her career ended when she sued Ramishvili in 2016. During the trial, lawyers produced audio recordings of Ramishvili harassing her. Samkharadze decided to record him when the sexual harassment showed no signs of stopping. The court charged Ramishvili and ordered him to pay court expenses but dropped any monetary penalties. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism commends the courageous women who have spoken publicly about their experiences of sexual harassment. Powerful individuals in leading positions at media companies should not be able to behave with impunity. Too often women in media are treated with disregard. Their voices matter. The allegations against Shalva Ramishvili should be taken seriously. He should be investigated for sexual misconduct.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.