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In a vivid demonstration of why, although the Saakashvili regime rarely jails journalists much less orders their killing, Georgia's media is far from free, national TV station Rustavi2 has again resorted to lies and distortions to prop up the government's propaganda.

Last night, reporting on the aftermath of Pavle Kublashvili's walkout from the multiparty talks on electoral reform the station said (see graphic) "The alliance demands establishing a 50%-barrier for mayors` elections. All the other political forces of Georgia, except the alliance agree to the proposal of lowering the barrier down to 30%."

In fact:

• The Alliance for Georgia offered to come down to 45% in the talks on Wednesday
• On Thursday the Alliance indicated they would be willing to consider further compromises
• Three parties - and not just the Alliance - opposed the UNM's package
• There was actually less opposition in the talks to the Alliance's proposed package than that of the governing UNM.
• Of course "all the other political forces of Georgia" are not on the working party in any case and the vast majority of those parties that are not fully support the demand for a proper threshold in the elections.

Georgia has three national TV news stations. One is publicly owned. One, Rustavi2 is notorious for its role in brodcasting propaganda and openly distorting facts and even faking video, while the third, Imedi, was an effective independent voice until Mikheil Saakashvili ordered in special forces on 7 November 2007 to smash the station up. After it was reopened the government used various means to ensure it was transferted to new owners who would support the government.