Dismissed director of Rustavi 2 announces creation of a new channel
Former Director General of Rustavi 2 Nika Gvaramia says that the new channel will be the “best” in Georgia. Photo: Rustavi 2. Photo: reginfo.
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Nika Gvaramia, a former Director General of Rustavi 2 TV, who was dismissed as soon as the ex-owner of the channel Kibar Khalvashi was given back his shares of the channel July 18, has announced the creation of a new channel, “which will start broadcasting earlier than you think.”
Gvaramia, who took top posts under the United National Movement leadership, including the post of justice minister, says that investors have already been found.
However, expenses will be high and we will also kick off a public campaign to attract additional funds,” Gvaramia wrote on his Facebook post.
Nino Nizharadze, a former nine per cent shareholder of the opposition-minded channel, addressed the Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office on July 16 to launch an investigation against Gvaramia.
She stated that Gvaramia deliberately signed several agreements with different companies to accumulate money to open the new channel, as he [Gvaramia] knew that the European Court of Human Rights would have allowed the return of 100 per cent of shares to Khalvashi.
Nizharadze also filed a lawsuit against Gvaramia back in May, demanding 28 million GEL (about $10.3m/€9.2m) “she suffered” due to the agreements Gvaramia signed.
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.
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 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.
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,
David Dvali and Jarji Akimidze, the founders of Rustavi 2 TV channel in 1994, say they will use “all legal” means to regain the channel from its new owner Kibar Khalvashi. Dvali and Akimidze spoke about the TV channel ownership dispute with parliament members yesterday.
The potential new Rustavi 2 CEO, Irakli Imnaishvili, says he wants to conclude contracts with TV channel employees to ensure editorial independence. This would be a first in Georgia’s media history – we would like to create a precedent of a well-planned editorial contract,” he said. Irakli Imnaishvili said 800 employees remain at Rustavi 2.
Tbilisi City Court has ruled that 60 per cent of shares of TV channel Rustavi 2 be frozen after two founders of the channel filed a lawsuit against current owner Kibal Khalvashi last week. Khalvashi, who stated his shares were illegally confiscated under the United National Movement leadership back in 2006, won the ownership dispute in the European Court of Human Rights in July 2019.
Giorgi Rurua, the founder and shareholder of Mtavari Arkhi TV, has been detained for illegal possession and carrying of a firearm, the press office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) said.
Giorgi Rurua, one of the founders and shareholders of opposition-minded Mtavari Arkhi TV, who was detained for illegal possession and carrying a firearm on November 18, has been accused of obstructing the Tbilisi City Court’s decision, announced the Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office today.