Founders of Rustavi 2 TV ask for continued investigation into ‘illegal seizure’ of channel
David Dvali and Jarji Akimidze say that the United National Movement leadership illegally seized the Rustavi 2 TV channel in 2004 which they founded. Photo: Rustavi 2.com
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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.
Dvali and Akimidze say that the case limitation period, 15 years, expires on June 16 and nobody has been punished so far for the illegal seizure of the property “when offenders and victims are well-known to public. “
Kibar Shalvashi, one of former shareholders of Rustavi 2.
In 2004 [when the founders lost control of the channel] the then-government and the current main opposition party, the United National Movement, undermined all democratic values and our rights,” Akimidze and Dvali said.
They say that they are not demanding the restoration of justice “in a day”, as the change in the current status-quo of the Rustavi 2 may cause various question marks.
However, if the investigation is suspended a chance will be lost to reveal what happened in 2004 and how the channel appeared in hands of the United National Movement government.”
They have urged the Georgian public, prime minister, Prosecutor’s Office, justice minister and public defender not to allow the case to remain uninvestigated.
Akimidze and Dvali also say that the current state leadership “did nothing” the former owners to regain their shares.
Current leadership of Rustavi two speaks about the government pressure.
Dvali and Akimidze appealed to the court to investigate the case in 2012, after the Georgian Dream coalition defeated the nine-year-rule of the United National Movement government.
- Also read: Shareholder files lawsuit against Rustavi 2
The ownership of Rustavi 2 has a very controversial history
- Established in 1994, the broadcasting company changed ownership 20 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, giving him 100 per cent of company shares.
- A few days later the European Court of Human Rights suspended the enforcement of the Georgian Supreme Court’s verdict.
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.
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).
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.
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 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.
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 Prosecutor’s Office plans to question ex-director of opposition minded TV channel Rustavi 2 for alleged abuse of power during his term. Official charges have not yet been brought against former director Nika Gvaramia, who will be asked to provide explanations of certain financial transactions which a former shareholder says were meant to bankrupt Rustavi 2.
David Dvali and Jarji Akimidze, the founders of Rustavi 2 TV channel in 1994, have filed a lawsuit against the current owner Kibar Khalvashi after Khalvashi won the channel ownership dispute at the European Court of Human Rights back in July 2019. Dvali and Akimidze say that their 60 per cent of the shares were also illegally confiscated by the previous United National Movement government in 2004 and Khalvashi was involved in the process.