Officials in Georgia believe that Kremlin skullduggery has succeeded in pulling the plug on a Georgian satellite television channel capable of broadcasting Russian-language content throughout the former Soviet Union, reports Eurasianet.com

In late January, Eutelsat, a French satellite broadcast operator, abruptly stopped transmission of Georgia’s First Caucasian channel, which was set up to promote Tbilisi’s viewpoint among Russian-speaking viewers. First Caucasian representatives say that Russian broadcast executives, acting at the Kremlin’s behest, were behind Eutelsat’s decision. The channel’s managers claim that Moscow wants to muzzle pro-Tbilisi broadcasts and to effectively block its ability to reach a Russian-speaking audience. [For additional information click here].

The direct cause for the shut-down is a supposed Eutelsat deal with Russian satellite company Intersputnik for broadcasts of a channel reportedly financed by Gazprom, the Kremlin-controlled energy behemoth. First Caucasian representatives contend the Eutelsat’s deal with Intersputnik gave the Russian entity control of all 16 transponders on the French firm’s W7 satellite, which was being used by the Georgian broadcaster. As a result, Intersputnik effectively pushed First Caucasian off the air, according to representatives of Georgian Public Broadcasting (GPB), which financed the Russian-language channel.

During late-January discussions between GPB and Eutelsat representatives, the French firm reportedly offered to transmit First Caucasian on other satellites, but the Georgians refused, citing the fact that only the W7 satellite beams programming that is viewable in Russia with existing dishes, according to GPB’s version of events. Switching to different satellites would have required Russian viewers to purchase new dishes in order to receive the First Caucasian signal. During the same discussions, Eutelsat reportedly attributed the interruption in the transmission of First Caucasian broadcasts to hackers, GPB representatives contended.

“They [Eutelsat] have suddenly changed the initially discussed deal and proposed terms that are not realistic,” said First Caucasian Executive Producer Zurab Dvali. “We have reasons to believe that the Russians, who transmit many channels via Eutelsat satellites, have told them not to transmit our channel. É It is very regrettable that the French, who come here [to Tbilisi] and preach to us about democracy and freedom of speech, brush aside these concepts when it comes to business and politics.”

Citing an unnamed diplomat in Tbilisi, the right-wing Parisian daily Le Figaro reported on January 27 that Eutelsat is allegedly under pressure from Russia not to carry the channel. An anonymous Eutelsat employee also reported “interferences” that could terminate the company’s association with First Caucasian.

First Caucasian started broadcasting online on January 1 and launched test broadcasts on Eutelsat on January 15. Eutelsat stopped carrying the channel roughly a week later, television representatives say.

In response to queries from EurasiaNet, Eutelsat attributed the cessation of First Caucasian programming to the conclusion of the channel’s trial testing period. “For one week there was a test period of the channel, which has now finished, and we are now in discussion of future options,” Eutelsat spokesperson Vanessa O’Connor wrote in an email. “It is not company policy to comment on on-going negotiations, so we have no further comments at this stage.”

O’Connor on February 1 rejected accusations that Moscow exerted any influence on negotiations. She indicated that there were no immoveable obstacles that would prevent Eutelsat and First Caucasian from reaching a new deal.

Georgian Public Broadcasting Company General Director Gia Chanturia hinted to EurasiaNet that Eutelsat was reneging on contractual obligations. “We have a contract, which lays out the terms of the deal pretty clearly, but now they [Eutelsat representatives] are finding fault with everything — be it content, technical problems, finances or what have you,” Chanturia said.

Eutelsat operates the only two satellites in Europe that are “well positioned” to cover Russia and other former Soviet states, Chanturia added. “I assure you we will do everything to ensure that the original deal is implemented,” he said.

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