Salia Fires Journalists from Rustavi 2

The new Director-General of “Rustavi 2”, Paata Salia announced today that journalists will be dismissed from the TV Channel. Salia is laying off Head of TV’s News Department, Nodar Meladze, and TV anchors: Giorgi Gabunia, Eka Kvesitadze, Nanuka Zhorzholiani as well as the Secretary of Director General, Giorgi Laperashvili.

Director-General of Rustavi 2 has named “conflict of interests” as the reason for journalists’ dismissal. “A person, who contradicts the channel and its owner, can not be employed in this company,” said Salia today at the conference.  

Paata Salia also mentioned that Nika Gvaramia might not be the only one with a case in the court. The new Director-General of Rustavi 2 reported today that the company might file a suit against Nodar Meladze and Giorgi Gabunia as they, much like Gvaramia, “have caused damage to the company”.

Salia talked about the moral code of the company. Director-General ensured that the management will not interfere with journalists’ policy. Those who have been selected to continue to work with Rustavi 2 can make their own decisions, whether they want to work without Meladze as their News Head. “I do not believe that one person could be the guarantee of the straightened up editorial office,” reported Paata Salia about the subject.

By Nini Dakhundaridze