Rustavi 2 TV ownership dispute causes controversy

A statement made by the director of private broadcasting company Rustavi 2 TV, which has become the subject of a legal depute between its current and former owners two months ago, is causing a stir and gaining a range of assessments in Georgia. 

Yesterday the channel’s director Nika Gvaramia said he had information that the Tbilisi City Court would deliver a verdict on behalf of an ex-shareholder of Rustavi 2 today.

Gvaramia added he was told by a man affiliated with the current state Government "to stand aside the process” otherwise a video reflecting his private life would be released. 

In his appeal during  a special news program broadcast on Rustavi 2, Gvaramia appealed  to the public to "physically stand by the channel tomorrow, right from the morning” and stressed "he would not let court enforcers inside the TV station’s building” when the court made its verdict in favour of ex-owners of the private broadcaster. 

Meanwhile lawyers of Rustavi 2 former shareholder (2004-2006) Qibar Khalvashi today said the process was complex and required time. 

No genuine solution was reached today in Court and the trial was scheduled to resume on October 26. 

PM Irakli Garibashvili stated media freedom was of utmost importance for his Government. Photo by Prime Minister's webpage. 

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili touched on the Rustavi 2 case today during the Governmental meeting, where he stressed Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office had already begun investigating Gvaramia’s statements and alleged pressure on him. 

The PM stressed "media freedom was of the utmost importance” for the current state leadership and addressed all parties to let the "impartial court make an unbiased verdict” on the case. 

My government fully supports a pluralistic media environment, a commitment which is demonstrated by Georgia’s rise in media rankings over recent years. I am saddened to witness the recent attempts to politicize the legal dispute between two private parties regarding the ownership of Rustavi 2 TV," stated Irakli Garibashvili.

"We are happy to see the channel continue broadcasting during these proceedings. The outcome of the case is however in the hands of the independent court, and should not be a matter of comment for party-political gain."

"I call on the court to ensure full transparency of the judicial process and hope to see the case completed in a timely manner and a return to "business as usual” for this important media provider,” underlined the leaders of Georgia at the Governmental meeting.

On this note a statement made by President Giorgi Margvelashvili generated much reaction from all parts of society.

The President said the Rustavi 2 case might cause some civil confrontations and called on diplomatic corps, non-Governmental and media organisations to discuss the issue with him. 

I appeal to the judge not to make a hasty and hard decision,” Margvelashvili also said. 

After meeting with President Margvelashvili, NGOs and media representatives and opposition parties positively assessed the President’s initiative while members of the current Government grilled Margvelashvili for his comments.

Georgia's President Giorgi Margvelashvili held meetings today over Rustavi 2. Photo by President's webpage. 

Members of the opposition United National Movement (UNM) said the Government wished to shut down Rustavi 2; one of the "most influential and impartial” TV channels in Georgia.  Opposition Free Democrats stressed Rustavi 2 "was not unbiased” but they supported the existence of the broadcaster. 

In her assessment Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani has called on the judiciary to ensure transparency of the process related to the legal case involving the television station Rustavi 2.

"The government does not control the judiciary in Georgia, so I want to call on the judiciary to ensure transparency of the process, and most importantly, to complete the case as soon as possible, in order to enable the Rustavi 2 journalists to work in a more peaceful environment," she said.

I am glad that Rustavi 2 continues broadcasting. A pluralistic media environment is part of the reality and culture in Georgia and it cannot be defeated by anyone in this country. We previously had problems, but we have already achieved that media freedom is protected in this country and the quality is being increasing," stressed the Minister of Justice. 

Parliament Speaker Davit Usupashvili addressed all individuals to refrain from making any statement that stirred certain confrontations among public and contained an address to disobey the verdict of a court, police or any state body.

Vice Prime Minsiter Kakha Kaladze said the President’s statement unduly influenced the Judge Tamaz Urtmelidze, who presided over the Rustavi 2 case. 

Head of the Supreme Court of Georgia Nino Gvenetadze emphasised that the Rustavi 2 trial was "transparent” and asked all sides not to cause a fuss and disturb the legal process. 

Meanwhile Khalvashi, the ex-owner of Rustavi 2, the broadcasting company that changed owners 20 times between 2004 and 2012, said the current process was "purely legal”. 

He said the only man who would be fired from the channel if he was reinstated with his former power the company would be current director Gvaramia. Khalvashi said Gvaramia has transformed the channel into a "trumpet” of UNM. 

Khalvashi filed a lawsuit on August 4 this year and, as an interim measure, also asked the court to freeze the broadcaster’s assets until the final verdict for the channel’s current owners not to sell their shares. The court accepted his appeal.