Georgian Justice Minister dismisses allegations of Rustavi 2, cites European Court’s decision
Georgian Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani says that everything dependს on the decision of the European Court of Human Rights ინ the Rustavi 2 private broadcaster ownership dispute. Photo: Justice Ministry press office.
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Georgian Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani has dismissed the allegations of Rustavi 2 private broadcaster director Nika Gvaramia regarding the government’s interest in shutting down the opposition-leaning channel and stated that no decision might be enforced by state agencies concerning the channel Rustavi 2 until the European Court of Human Rights delivers a verdict in the broadcaster’s ownership issue.
Tsulukiani made the statement in response to Gvaramia, who said yesterday that Nino Nizharadze, who inherited nine percent of shares of Rustavi 2 – one of the largest private companies in Georgia – from her husband is demanding 28 million GEL (about $10.3m/€9.2m) in court.
Director of Rustavi 2 Nika Gvaramia believes this is the ruling party’s “new phase of attack” against the TV company. Photo: Rustavi2.
The plaintiff is demanding compensation for damages she suffered because of mismanagement, while Gvaramia says that Nizharadze is fulfilling the demands of the Georgian Dream government “to silence the channel.”
Tsulukiani cited the decision of the ECHR made in March 2017, which temporarily suspended the enforcement of the verdict of the Georgian Supreme Court also in 2017, which returned 100 per cent of the channel shares to its former owner Kibar Khalvashi.
Gvaramia and Rustavi 2 appealed to the ECHR’s to make such a decision and “protect them from the government and their man-Khalvashi.”
I want to remind everyone that none of the measures will be taken regarding the channel until the ECHR delivers its verdict,” Tsulukiani said.
In most cases, the ECHR requires years to discuss and deliver verdicts on such cases.
The ownership of Rustavi 2 has a very controversial history
- Established in 1994, the broadcasting company changed ownership numerous times between 2004 and 2012.
- In March 2017 Georgia’s Supreme Court delivered a verdict in favor of Its former shareholder 2004-2006) Kibar Khalvashi, who had filed a lawsuit in 2015.
- A few days later the European Court of Human Rights suspended the enforcement of the Georgian Supreme Court’s verdict.
- Currently 91% of the TV company’s shares is owned by brothers Giorgi and Levan Karamanishvili.
Nino Nizharadze, who inherited nine percent of shares of Rustavi 2 – one of the largest private companies in Georgia - from her husband Gogi Gegeshidze, is demanding 28 million GEL (about $10.3m/€9.2m).
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has called on the public to refrain from incendiary actions with respect to the Rustavi 2 case verdict and to await for the decision of the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights.
The Government of Georgia believes the independence of Rustavi 2 – one of the country’s largest private broadcasting companies – will be guaranteed under the global new leadership of Kibar Khalvashi.
Georgia’s Supreme Court has delivered a verdict in the ownership case of one of Georgia’s largest TV channels, Rustavi 2.
Founders of one of Georgia’s leading private broadcasters, Rustavi 2, David Dvali and Jarji Akimidze, who founded the channel with now deceased politician Erosi Kitsmarishvili in 1994, have asked for the continuation of the investigation around the ‘illegal seizure of the channel from lawful owners’ in 2004, under the United National Movement leadership.
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office says that the investigation into the possibly illegal seizure of the Rustavi 2 private broadcaster under the United National Movement leadership in 2004 continues, despite the 15-year limitation period of the case expired on June 16.
Nino Nizharadze, a nine per cent shareholder of the opposition-minded Rustavi 2 channel, has addressed the Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office to launch an investigation against the channel director, former Minister of Justice Nika Gvaramia.
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.
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 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.