Rustavi 2 Might Have European or American Media Manager
According to Kibar Khalvashi, the current 100% shareholder of Rustavi 2 TV Company, he is looking for a European or American media manager with high reputation and expertise for the TV Channel.
The above is said in the statement of Khalvashi, in which he disapproves the statements made about the recent developments around the TV channel.
“We’ve been trying to continue cooperation in a calm, peaceful and civilized manner for several days now.
On July 18, after the publication of the Strasbourg Court judgment, I stated that everyone could continue working on the channel and that the new management was ready to cooperate with all the employees except Nika Gvaramia. I also emphasized that editorial independence would be ensured.
Unfortunately, we have recently heard a lot of unverified statements about Rustavi 2. The most shocking thing for me was negative statements directed against the European Court and its judges, along with the statements about the Director-General's dismissal by me. I am afraid that such an attitude will negatively affect anti-Western sentiments as well as the channel's rating.
However, we continue working in a calm environment and the director appointed by me (Paata Salia, the Lawyer of Khalvashi), together with the consultants, is studying the situation in the company, which seems to be quite difficult.
We must overcome this crisis and ensure the channel's proper operation.
When the director of the company makes maximum efforts to solve the problems, but when we hear the journalists’ absolutely unverified statements and when Western institutions are being discredited willingly or unwillingly, the company needs a media manager with western expertise, which can help the channel to create critical TV product of high journalistic standards.
I am already looking for the relevant person. Presumably, we will choose European or American media manager with high reputation and TV expertise in the nearest future”, reads the statement of Kibar Khalvashi.
On July 18, the European Court of Human Rights delivered a verdict in the ownership case of one of Georgia’s largest TV channels, Rustavi 2.
According to the Court’s judgment, there were no violations of any Article of the European Convention on Human Rights in the case of Rustavi 2. Additionally, the rights of Rustavi 2 and its owners were not violated in the Georgian courts. Rustavi 2 can appeal the case in the Grand Chamber of Strasbourg.
The Strasbourg Court suspended a temporary measure whereby the mechanism of suspending the judgment of the Supreme Court of Georgia no longer exist. Accordingly, the TV company was re-registered to shareholder Kibar Khalvashi, as it was decided by the courts of three instances in Georgia.
On the same day, Nika Gvaramia has been dismissed from the post of Director-General of TV Company Rustavi 2. The TV Channel now has a new head - Paata Salia, the lawyer of the current owner of Rustavi 2 - businessman Kibar Khalvashi.
Related Stories:
Kibar Khalvashi Officially Registers as Rustavi 2 Owner
Gvaramia Dismissed - Rustavi 2 Has New Director-General
By Ana Dumbadze