Georgian President says ECHR verdict on Rustavi 2 is ‘unprecedented’
The European Court of Human Rights upheld the verdicts of Georgian courts on the Rustavi 2 private broadcaster’s ownership dispute. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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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.
This, by showing trust in the judicial system, gives a strong basis for the upcoming 4th wave of judicial reform. This is for #Georgia another big step towards #Europe.
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) July 18, 2019
Zurabishvili also said she shares the spirit of the ECHR decisions and trusts that freedom of expression "is and will be under no threat" in Georgia.
As the President, responsible, according to the #Constitution, for protecting those principles, I share the sprit of the ECHR decisions. I also trust that another fundamental principle, that of freedom of expression, is and will be under no threat.
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) July 18, 2019
The European Court of Human Rights released its verdict on the Rustavi 2 private broadcaster’s ownership dispute on July 18, upholding the verdicts of Georgian courts on the case.
ECHR stated that none of the articles of the European convention have been violated in relation to Rustavi 2, including the right to a fair trial.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tbilisi City Court has denied a request to freeze the shares of Rustavi 2 TV channel, as was demanded by ex-Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili, who says that he paid seven million USD to buy the media outlet back in 2004, when he served as Prosecutor General under the United National Movement leadership.
Former owners of Rustavi 2 private broadcaster, the brother Karamanishvili, have addressed the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to recheck the court’s July 18 verdict which allowed the return of 100 per cent of the channel’s shares to ex-owner Kibar Khalvashi.
The request of former owners of Rustavi 2 private broadcaster to refer the July 18, 2019 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to the Grand Chamber of the court has been rejected. The judgment of 18 July 2019, which allowed the return of 100 per cent of Rustavi 2 shares to Kibar Khalvashi, now becomes final, the ECHR reports.