2018-10-30 On October 30, it was reported by media that as a result of pressure from local authorities an independent media agency Imereti News was closed down. Founder of the agency, Kote Tsirekidze, whose mother Eleonora Archaia is a deputy chair of the Georgian Dream faction in Kutaisi Sakrebulo stated that because of direct and indirect threats made against him and his family by Kutaisi Deputy Mayor Giorgi Iobashvili and Deputy Governor of Imereti, Grigol Dalakishvili, he was forced to temporarily suspend operations of Imereti News Agency. Kutaisi Deputy Mayor Giorgi Iobashvili held a special briefing to respond to the allegations about possible pressure against Imereti News Agency. The Deputy Mayor denied the allegations and stated that if the owner of the agency provides evidence, he is ready to take responsibility. Later founder of the media agency Kote Tsirekidze talked about concrete examples of pressure.