The simulated news-programme – Kronika imitated the events of summer 2010 as if opposition failed in local elections and started uprising. And the Russian Federation used the chance to occupy Georgia. Information about liquidating of the Georgian President was spread as well. According to Imedi TV, some part of the opposition assisted the Russian Federation in annexation of Georgia.

In a brief notice before the launch of the report, the television station told viewers that it was “a simulation” of what might happen in case Russian plans materialize. But in the course of the report itself the TV station carried no sign on the screen indicating that it was an imitation. After the introductory remarks by the anchor, a regular 8pm news bulletin of Imedi TV, Kronika, started. The story line of the fake report focuses on post-local election period, sometime in early June, 2010; opposition, allegedly led by Nino Burjanadze and Zurab Nogaideli – the two politicians who have recently met with Russia’s PM Vladimir Putin, protests against the local election results; the Russian Federation uses unrests in Georgia and intervenes militarily. The fake report culminated with announcement about President Saakashvili’s “assassination” and “clashes” in outskirt of Tbilisi. A caption was running below the screen, saying: “Mobilization of the occupying forces; Akhalgori-based military unit on combat readiness.”

As the fake report was running mobile networks crushed for several minutes as many were trying to call to find out what was happening. News agencies reported, that number of calls received by an emergency ambulance service, increased significantly at the time when the fake report was running on Imedi TV.

About an hour after the fake report was over, Manan Manjgaladze, President Saakashvili’s spokesperson, arrived in studio of the Special Report program and requested to make a statement. She said that she was instructed by President Saakashvili to come and express on his behalf “concern and alarm” about this fake report.

“There should have been a caption on the screen showing that it was simulation,” she said. 
Manjgaladze, herself a former anchor of Imedi TV news bulletin, said she believed the television station should apologize.

After the program was over, the Imedi TV continuously was running a caption below the screen apologizing for the fake report. “It aimed at obstructing Russia’s aggressive plans,” the caption reads.

The program was not yet over as several Facebook campaign groups emerged condemning Imedi TV. In few hours one such group attracted over 2,000 supporters and another one over 2,800.

Dozens of angry people, including some opposition politicians gathered at a spontaneous rally outside the Imedi television station. The next day, the Georgian communication regulating commission gathered to discuss the Imedi case. The Commission obliged the Imedi TV to apologize though did not fine the Company or put any other sanctions against it.

On Monday evening a taped phone conversation record appeared on the public forums. The phone conversation is purportedly between Giorgi Arveladze, the head of Imedi television stations and his deputy in charge of news and political programming, Eka Tsamalashvili.

In the taped phone conversation a man and a woman, whose voices sound like the ones of Giorgi Arveladze and Eka Tsamalashvili, respectively, discuss details of planned broadcast of the fake report. In the beginning of the conversation, she tells her interlocutor that the fake report seemed very realistic and if someone started watching it not from the beginning, missing a warning, the one would think that “it is true.” 
“That’s how it should be,” the man responds.

She then warns the interlocutor that it would be a violation of broadcaster’s code of conduct if the broadcast had no caption on the screen indicating that the report is fiction.

“No,” the man responds. “I was speaking to Misha yesterday and he asked me if it would be aired like a regular Kronika . I responded positively, but told that it would be said in advance that it’s a simulation. But he told me not make an announcement in advance.”

Mentioning of “Misha” – a short form for the name Mikheil, as President Saakashvili is usually referred to – is likely to further fuel allegations that the President personally could have been behind the fake report.

Earlier on March 15 President’s spokesperson, Manana Manjgaladze, strongly denied the allegation as “absurd.”

Arveladze and Eka Tsamalashvili strongly rejected authenticity of the tape by claiming that it was fabricated.