Tbilisi-based TV company Channel 9 will suspend broadcasting from April 5. The television station is owned by the Georgian financial tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Administration of the Channel 9 gave no specified reasons of suspension of broadcasting.

Ivanishvili has interfered in the channel work before. In 2002 the whole information team was sacked after broadcasting the controversial information.

However, current surprise decision of the television owner sparked speculations over alleged pressure of the government on media companies.

Similar speculations were aired after two most popular political talk shows were taken off the air of the Rustavi 2 and Imedi televisions in the beginning of 2004. The shows were brought back on air since with renewed anchors and format.