New director general of Rustavi 2 says he will not interfere in editorial policy
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has released its verdict on the Rustavi 2 private broadcaster’s ownership dispute on July 18, upholding the verdicts of Georgian courts on the case. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Tweet 
Share
Paata Salia, who replaced Nika Gvaramia as the director general of Rustav 2, went to the TV company and spoke with the team late on July 18 to set further goals.
Salia told the journalists that he does not intend to interfere in the editorial policy and the team may continue working as they did before the verdict of the European Court of Human Rights.
You, the journalists have the freedom to do whatever you did. This is your job and I do not intend to interfere", Salia said.
Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
He also underscored that he aimed to meet with the company's managing team to learn more about its financial and legal conditions. However, Salia was told at Rustavi 2 that the managing team had already left.
We want to make sure that the company has no obstacles. You are aware that the director has been changed.... [the company] should work without any delays", he said.
Salia, who is also the lawyer of the new owner of Rustavi 2, Kibar Khalvashi, said the latter “cannot imagine to cooperate with Nika Gvaramia”, while he has no objections to work with anyone else from the team.
Before meeting with the journalists Salia had a short conversation with former director general Nika Gvaramia as well. Gvaramia said he will not cooperate with Salia and would not yet let him take the general director's cabinet.
- The Georgian Public Registry Agency registered the shares of Rustavi 2 in the name of its former owner Kibar Khalvashi after the ECHR verdict.
- Nika Gvaramia said in his earlier remarks that the verdict “was shocking and absolutely unimaginable".
- He also urged the Georgian Justice Ministry not to register the channel on Khalvashi, as the current owners of the channel have the right to appeal the verdict to the Grand Chamber of the ECHR.
Former owner of Rustavi 2 Kibar Khalvashi has stated that the verdict of the European Court of Human Rights on Rustavi 2 has dispelled all doubts regarding the channel’s ownership, confirming that the ‘only lawful owner of the TV is me.’ He said that he has no plans to get involved in the editorial policy of the channel,
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has released its verdict on the Rustavi 2 private broadcaster’s ownership dispute earlier today, upholding the verdicts of Georgian courts on the case.Rustavi 2 and its current owners earlier filed with the ECHR as plaintiffs, claiming that the Georgian Court of Appeals and Supreme Court had delivered unfair verdicts.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said the recent verdict of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on the Rustavi 2 private broadcaster’s ownership dispute was “unprecedented”. President Zurabishvili believes that with this verdict the ECHR has recognised impartiality of the Georgian court and fairness of its decisions.
The Georgian Public Registry Agency has registered the shares of Rustavi 2 in the name of its former owner Kibar Khalvashi after today’s verdict of the European Court of Human Rights. Khalvashi’s lawyer addressed the agency to introduce changes in the Rustavi 2 registration document as the ECHR upheld the verdicts of the Georgians courts and allowed the return of 100 percent of shares of the channel to Khalvashi.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled today that Georgia must pay €50,000 to the family of Zurab Vazagashvili, who was shot and killed by police under the United National Movement leadership back in 2006.
Georgian former Defence Minister under the United National Movement leadership Irakli Okruashvili has addressed Tbilisi City Court to freeze Rustavi 2 shares, which were yesterday returned to his former ally and friend Kibar Khalvashi.
Georgian former Defence Minister under the United National Movement leadership Irakli Okruashvili has addressed Tbilisi City Court to freeze Rustavi 2 shares, which were yesterday returned to his former ally and friend Kibar Khalvashi.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says that yesterday’s ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the Rustavi 2 ownership dispute confirmed that justice was neglected by the United National Movement leadership (UNM). The ECHR ruling effectively allowed the return of 100 per cent of the channel’s shares to its former owner Kibar Khalvashi.
The United States Embassy in Georgia said the recent ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the Rustavi 2 ownership dispute should be implemented “in a manner that is fair, apolitical, and allows for a multitude of opinions to be represented in the media.” "Freedom of speech and a media landscape representative of a plurality of views are foundations of democracy”, the US Embassy said.
Former Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili says that he gave testimony in the Rustavi 2 case back in 2014 under the Georgian Dream leadership to have the support in the mayoral elections he ran. He said in the testimony in April 2014 that Rustavi 2 was illegally seized on the demand of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili from its lawful owners and founders Jarji Akimidze and David Dvali in 2004.
Dismissed Director General of Georgian private broadcaster Rustavi 2, Nika Gvaramia has been questioned at Tbilisi City Court today. The questioning lasted more than two hours. Nika Gvaramia said the questions mainly referred to the advertising contracts [he concluded].
The new owner of Rustavi 2 Kiber Khalvashi, who was given 100 per cent of the company’s shares on July 18, is selling the broadcasting company, reports Rustavi 2.