European court refuses to refer its judgement on Rustavi 2 TV channel
Former owners of Rustavi 2 private broadcaster, the brothers Karamanishvili, addressed the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to recheck the court’s earlier verdict on the channel at the end of October 2019. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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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.
- Ex-owners of Rustavi 2 address Grand Chamber of European Court to recheck its verdict on the channel
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.
The court says that at its last meeting on Monday, December 9, the Grand Chamber panel of five judges decided to reject requests to refer the case.
Georgian Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani has stated that the ECHR’s decision once again confirmed that all the accusations made against the Georgian court by ex-owners of Rustavi 2 - brothers Karamanishvili and the former director of the channel Nika Gvaramia were groundless.
ECHR released its verdict on the Rustavi 2 private broadcaster’s ownership dispute on July 18, upholding the verdicts of Georgian courts on the case.
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.
Georgian TV channel Rustavi 2 did not broadcast a newscast today during its 12:00 programme, and instead ran a film. Radio Liberty reports that Rustavi 2 journalists did not agree to host the newscast after the channel Director General Paata Salia unexpectedly dismissed head of information service Nodar Meladze, producer Giorgi Laperashvili and TV anchors Eka Kvesitadze, Giorgi Gabunia and Nanuka Zhorzholiani on August 20.
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.
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,
Georgian Media Production Group, which holds local TV channels Imedi, GDS and Radio Imedi is for sale. The Communications Commission of Georgia has already discussed the issue at today's meeting and gave its consent on the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Georgian Media Production Group.
Hunnewell Partners, an asset management and recovery firm, will purchase the local TV channel Imedi after the Communications Commission of Georgia gave its consent on the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Georgian Media Production Group, which holds local TV channels Imedi, GDS and Radio Imedi.