Founders of Rustavi 2 TV Company Davit Dvali and Jarji Akimidze say that Rustavi 2 web-page domain rustavi2.com belongs to them. The founders released a statement through social network which reads the following: “Starting today we stop charity activities and will attempt to balance the strong flow of propaganda and misinformation. In 2004 when national movement authorities forced us to cede 60% shares of TV Company, they forgot that the domain was a separate property and continued using the internet resource. The authorities did not even become interested who covered expenses for use of the domain for 13 years,” says the statement. 

Rustavi 2 TV Company responded the statement released by TV Company founders Davit Dvali and Jarji Akimidze regarding use of company’s web-page domain. “The founders, without any warning, cut off the online platform and thousands of users who watched out programs through internet are now left without information. Technical works are ongoing,” reads the statement. Founders of Rustavi 2 TV Company Davit Dvali and Jarji Akimidze say that Rustavi 2 web-page domain rustavi2.com belongs to them. 

The competition for selection of 9 new programs for new broadcasting season at Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) will begin starting April 3. The competition will proceed into three stages. The selection commission is already staffed by 12 members and will be chaired by journalist and writer Paata Kurdadze.The commission, staffed by GPB representatives and 4 foreign experts, held the first sitting today and talked about criteria for selection of new programs.

Rustavi 2 TV Company has accepted the offer of Brothers Karamanashvilis. LTD “Team of Rustavi 2” will be officially established on March 27. Nika Gvaramia, General Director of Rustavi 2 Company talked about the offer in “Courier” News Program. He said that the LTD would become the 51% shareholder of “Saqartvelo” TV Company. 

The offer voiced by Rustavi 2 Director General Nika Gvaramia has been assessed as ultimatum, however brothers Karamanishivili still accept Gvaramia’s proposal.The owners of Rustavi 2 express readiness to hand the control package of Rustavi 2 shares to employees of TV Company. Nika Gvaramia addressed brothers Karamanishivili with above-mentioned request and assessed the proposal of transferring 40% of shares as fiction.Yesterday Levan Karamanishvili, one of the owners of Rustavi 2 TV Company, expressed readiness to transfer 40% of shares free of charge to the Rustavi 2 employees. He addressed the Rustavi 2 employees to launch consultations to insure transparent and fair distribution of the shares.Despite the consent Karamanishbvilis fixed their negative attitude toward the issue openly.  TV owners are particularly surprised by the fact that only part of employees was mentioned by Gvaramia yesterday.The lawyer of former owner and one of the founders of Rustavi 2 TV Company speak about internal disagreement between Gvaramia and Karamanishvili.

Tbilisi City Court partly satisfied the law-suit of Journalist Eka Mishveladze.  Court has delivered a verdict today according to which the order issued by GPB General Director Giorgi Baratashvili on February 11, 2016 about dismissal journalist Eka Mishveladze from Public Broadcaster was terminated. The Broadcaster has to pay 30 000 GEL compensation to Mishveladze and 900 GEL to the state budget.Eka Mishveladze was dismissed from the Public Broadcaster in February 2016, after which, the journalist appealed to the court. During Court dispute her interest was defended by the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA). The Lawyers of GPB plan to appeal the Court's verdict. 

Levan Karamanishivlis, one of the owners of Rustavi 2 TV Company, express readiness to transfer 40% of shares free of charge to the Rustavi 2 employees. He released the regarding statement today. He addressed the Rustavi 2 employees to launch consultations to insure transparent and fair distribution of the shares.“We appeal to Rustavi 2 staff. Dear friends, your role in the fight for freedom of speech and democracy in Georgia is invaluable. If not for your daily devotion, Rustavi 2 would no longer exist, or would have been turned into Ivanishvili’s propaganda channel. What you have done in the last two years, after the attack on the television, is civil heroism”.“As a sign of gratitude and respect, we are offering to transfer you 40 % of shares free of charge in order to enable you to define the fate and the future of the channle”, - the statement reads.

The members of Board of Trustees of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) held a meeting with the Ambassador of Poland today. The meeting was held by the initiative of Mariusz Maszkiewicz. The future cooperation issues between Georgian and Polish Public Broadcasters were discussed as a part of the meeting.The meeting between managements of two broadcasters has been planned; more details will be announced in April.

Protest in support of Rustavi 2 TV Company was held in front of the parliament building at central Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi this afternoon. Rustavi 2 Director General Nika Gvaramia and journalists addressed the gathered crowd from the stage installed outside the parliamentary building. The concert also organized in support of Rustavi 2 TV Company lasted during three hours. Representatives of non-parliamentary and parliamentary opposition also attended the event. According to them they continue fighting for protection of freedom of speech. Traffic has been restricted from Kashueti Church to Subway Station ‘Liberty Square.’

Protest in support of Rustavi 2 TV Company is ongoing in front of the parliament building at central Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi.Journalists are addressing the gathered crowd from the stage installed outside the parliamentary building. 

The Broadcast Programming of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) will not change before July 17. GPB’s Board of Trustees today discussed and approved the new action plan proposed by the GPB management.The action plan was approved with 6 votes for and 1- against. Sulkhan Saladze voted against. Another member Ketevan Mskhiladze did not participate in the voting.A competition for programs will be announced for the new broadcast season. Board members will consider competition terms, selection criteria and competition commission related issues. Dispute took place during the sitting about some initiatives. 

Social-Democrats believe that the campaign about Rustavi 2 TV Company is anti-public and anti-democratic, Gia Zhorzholiani, Leader of the party made this statement. According to Zhorzholiani, the case has to do with a revenge-like political fight led by National Movement. He also said that the party was not interfering with court process but would not admit questioning of values won through October, 2012 elections. 

An ownership dispute over Georgia’s most-watched television broadcaster, Rustavi 2, has sparked serious concerns about potential government interference with both media and the judiciary, Human Rights Watch said today.Rustavi 2’s current leadership, the political opposition, and many independent groups see a lawsuit by a former owner seeking to retake ownership and a March 2, 2017 ruling by the Supreme Court endorsing the change as a government-orchestrated move to take over the opposition-minded station. The European Court of Human Rights has ordered temporary suspension of the Supreme Court decision and instructed the Georgian authorities to refrain from interference in the station.“A government-favored change in the editorial policy of Rustavi 2 would deliver a serious blow to Georgia’s media pluralism and could significantly limit the public’s access to opposition views,” said Giorgi Gogia, South Caucasus director at Human Rights Watch. “The entire process of contesting Rustavi 2’s ownership threatens media freedom and judicial independence and demands further scrutiny.” 

Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili calls on sides to preserve the current Status Quo on Rustavi 2 TV Company before Constitutional Court and European Court of Human Rights make final decisions into Rustavi 2 case.  Eka Mishveladze’ President’s Press Speaker introduced President’s viewpoint to journalists during the traditional press briefing today. According to Mishveladze, President’s Administration once again underlines that processes around Rustavi 2 and Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) and any limitation to freedom of media would be a serious blow on democratic principles and European future of the country. 

The Broadcast Programming of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) will not change before July 17 and not a single program will be closed. GPB’s Board of Trustees today discussed the recent agreement reached between the GPB management and Board, and approved the regulations. A competition for programs will be announced for the new broadcast season. Board members will consider competition terms, selection criteria and competition commission related issues. The new management presented a document about programming policy today. Dispute took place during the sitting about some initiatives. 

Ian Kelly, US Ambassador to Georgia said that he welcomed Prime Minister’s initiative about establishment of Media Ombudsman’s Institute in Georgia. According to Kelly, media plays an important role in the country’s development process. 

Kakha Kaladze, Georgian Vice-Prime Minister and Energy Minister commented about the recent developments in the media through a video address.Kaladze said he welcomed PM’s initiative about establishment of Media Ombudsman’s Institute that would be a step forward for boosting media quality. According to Kaladze, Rustavi 2 is a ‘Party Television’ though limitations have never referred to it on part of the government. He said that Rustavi 2 case was a legal dispute over ownership. 

The decision of European Court of Human Rights about a medication made by lawyers of Rustavi 2 TV Company will become known on March 8. Lawyers demand extension of suspension mechanism of enforcement over the ruling made by Supreme Court of Georgia on March 2. Kibar Khalvashi, a businessman and new owner of Rustavi 2 TV Company demands that he is involved into the case with the status of a Third Person. However, the complaint submitted in Strasbourg Court rules participation of the third party in the dispute between TV Company and Georgian government. 

The Board of Trustees of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) today will discuss the recent agreement reached between the GPB management and Board. It is known that Broadcast Programming will not change before July 17 and not a single program will be closed. A competition for programs will be announced for the new broadcast season. Board members will consider competition terms, selection criteria and competition commission related issues today. The new management will present a document about programming policy. 

Georgian politicians commented on Prime Minister’s initiative about establishment of Media Ombudsman’s Institute. Majority MPs claim that the initiative will be additional guarantee for provision of freedom of speech. Sozar Subari, Minister of IDPs and Settlement, who served as Ombudsman in the past, said that the new institute will contribute to the media independence since foreign experts will be involved in its work.