Winners of media competition “Tolerance Prize 2015” were awarded today. Prizes were given to journalists and bloggers. Vika Bukia, journalist of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) received the prize for working on gender issues. The competition was organized with support of Media Development Foundation, Ilia State University and UN Association.   

The film of the Documentary Film Studio of the Georgia’s Public Broadcaster Niko’s Way has won Adami Media Prize for the category Information (non-fiction).The festive Gala Evening is ongoing at the National Library in Tbilisi for the time being.

The Court of Appeal has annulled judge Tamaz Urtmelize’s decision on appointment of temporary managers in Rustavi 2 TV company. The court also partly satisfied Rustavi 2’s request for abolition of the decision on property seizure. In particular, the ban on renting has been invalidated.  The court allowed "Rustavi 2" to rent out individual studios, to sign lease agreements, including renting of movable property. The contract may not exceed three months.The Court of Appeals did not satisfy Kibar Khalvashi’s complaint on banning the use of Rustavi 2 logo.

The Second Channel of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) begins new season with new TV Projects. “Political Alternative” will go on the air in connection with pre-election period for political parties to fix their viewpoints. Also “Political Morning” will be aired every morning. “Epicenter” Program returns for viewers today at 7 PM. 

The management issue of Rustavi 2 TV Company remains open. Zaal Udumashvili, Deputy General Director of Rustavi2 rejected offer of Rezo Sakevarishvili and Davit Dvali, temporary managers of Rustavi 2 TV Company about handing him over their authority.Dvali said the corresponding decision about handing over the authority has already been reflected in the Public Register. However, Udumashvili said the document lacked his signature and therefore had no legal power. According to Dvali, they do not enter Rustavi 2, and those being there have no authority to manage the company. “Therefore, we addressed the founders to allocate a person that would do this. In spite of a totally inadequate answer saying they do not recognize us, we have still made the following step. Two days ago I met with Zaal Udumashvili, explained our position that we are interested everything to continue peacefully and avoid tensions adding I am ready to hand over my authority to him. Today, Mr. Sakevarishvili and I have implemented the decision. We granted our authority to Zaal Udumashvili. He has already been handed over the right and it has already been registered by the Public Register. It means that Udumashvili is fully authorized to manage the company temporarily,” Davit Dvali said.  

Members of the Georgian Cabinet of Ministers underline that the developments around Rustavi 2 TV Company is a matter of private dispute and that the processes should be resolved in peaceful way. Kakha Kaladze, Vice Prime Minister says that freedom of expression is not threatened in the country. The ministers also call on representatives of various political forces to abstain from politicizing the topic. 

“I don’t think there is any direct connection between the visa liberalization process and Rustavi 2 issue,” EU Ambassador to Georgia Janosh Herman thus answered a reporter’s question whether Rustavi 2 case would somehow hinder the visa liberalization process. “I would like to repeat what the EU High Representative said yesterday. Now we are at the stage of assessing the visa liberalization action plan implementation process. I don’t thinks it has something to do with the issue being on the political agenda in Georgia nowadays,” Herman said. In response to a question what he thinks on the court process underway in relation to the Rustavi 2 TV, Herman said he would like to refrain from answering adding the EU has made statements over free judiciary system and media pluralism many times. 

91-% shareholders of Rustavi 2 release statement - We have nothing to discuss with either Dvali or Sakevarishvili, - said the Rustavi 2 broadcasting company’s 91-% shareholders. Levan and Gia Karamanishvili have released a statement on this topic:  "Yesterday, on November 6, in light of unprecedented reaction from the Georgian society and the international community, Ivanishvili’s authorities, which is out of the constitutional space, temporarily retreated and offered us to name our candidate, which would be authorized by the so-called "temporary managers" to fully manage the TV company. "Naturally, we are not going to cooperate with the appointed political censors by bypassing the Constitution. Their appointment was unconstitutional. We have nothing to discuss with either Dvali (who made a deal with the government to launch this attack) or Sakevarishvili (who was sent to the Imedi TV by the government three years ago to conduct staff cleansing there). In case of desire, the Georgian authorities have all legal means to solve the problems created by themselves with regard to Rustavi 2. We will continue to fight together with the Georgian public and the international community through every legitimate, legal ways", - the statement says.

Tamaz Urtmelidze, Judge of Tbilisi City Court is expected at Justice Supreme Council on November 9. Nino Gvenetadze, Chairperson of Supreme Court expressed readiness to meet with Utmelidze due to high interest of the public towards the enforcement decision which the judge made on November 5 regarding Rustavi 2 TV Company case. 

Representatives of non-governmental organizations met with diplomats and provided them with the information over the recent developments around Rustavi 2 TV Company.The meeting was held at Transparency International Georgia office behind the closed door. NGOs are asking for reaction from the international community. A special statement signed by 11 NGOs was released which says that the enforcement decision made by Tamaz Urtmelidze, Judge of Tbilisi City Court on November 5 contradicts to Civil Procedural Legislation. According to the statement the circumstances provided by the judge in the decision can be considered as interference into editorial policy of TV Company. NGOs also focus on appointment of temporary managers. Temporary managers were appointed at Rustavi 2 TV Company based on enforcement decision made by Tamaz Urtmelidze, Judge of Tbilisi City Court. Rezo Sakevarishvili and Davit Dvali are appointed on posts.Nika Gvaramia, General Director of Rustavi 2 TV Company and Financial Director Kakha Damenia were terminated their authorities. The enforcement decision reads that temporary managers are authorized to lead staff policy, internal reorganization and determine broadcast programming.

Temporary managers of Rustavi 2 TV Company call on the company’s management suspended their authorities for cooperation. Kibar Khalvashi, businessman, temporary managers Davit Dvali and Revaz Sakevarishvili and Jarji Akimidze, one of the first founders of Rustavi 2 TV Company held a briefing at Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel. The participants presented 3-point plan about future of TV Company and its editorial policy. They pledged that not a single journalist would leave the company and normal work would continue, no police force would be used when entering the building. The sides said that the TV Company should merge from political forces and it would not be financed by budgetary or political donations. 

Georgia's Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani has questions with regard to US Ambassador Ian Kelly’s statement on Rustavi 2 developments. The Minister requests explanations about what the US Embassy meant in its statement, when it said that the processes developed during the night and that they had political implications. "The court's decision was submitted to the Ministry of Justice at 18:00 yesterday and it was registered at 09:20 this morning. Show me the document referring to night developments," the Minister said.U.S. Ambassador Ian Kelly has released a statement regarding the November 5 developments related to Rustavi 2. 

Temporary managers were appointed at Rustavi 2 TV Company based on enforcement decision made by Tamaz Urtmelidze, Judge of Tbilisi City Court. Rezo Sakevarishvili and Davit Dvali are appointed on posts.Nika Gvaramia, General Director of Rustavi 2 TV Company released a statement in social network about the decision. Judge suspended authorities to Gvaramia and Financial Director Kakha Damenia. The enforcement decision reads that temporary managers are authorized to lead staff policy, internal reorganization and determine broadcast programming. Tamta Demurishvili, lawyer of Rustavi 2 says that the enforcement decision will be complained in Appeals Court. The TV Company also plans to apply to Constitutional Court with the lawsuit.    

According to Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia Janos Herman, the EU is closely watching developments related to Rustavi 2.As Herman told reporters, he has repeatedly said that he cannot discuss specific details of the case, however, it is important how far the case may affect the political situation."It is important that the execution of the decision, including, the change of the Rustavi 2 management, will not start immediately. Rustavi 2 has the opportunity to file a complaint and let’s wait for this process,” said Janos Herman.According to him, adherence to the rule of law, democracy and principles of media freedom are important for the EU and in this direction the European Union has repeatedly helped Georgia."It is important not only to preserve the achievements that Georgia has in terms of democratic, the rule of law and freedom of the media, but to take next steps forward," said Janos Herman.

Irakli Alasania, Leader of Free Democrats Party addresses President Giorgi Margvelashvili and Chairman of Parliament Davit Usupashvili to plan a meeting of the ruling coalition and oppositional forces. Alasania calls on the government not to admit repetition of development of events over Rustavi 2 TV Company with violent scenario. 

According to Kibar Khalvashi’s lawyer Paata Salia, if the requests of Rustavi 2 and Georgia TV are satisfied by the Constitutional Court, civil circulation will be overturned in Georgia. Salia made this statement at a press conference. "We have learned that the Georgia TV company representatives intend to appeal to the Constitutional Court today. They have appealed to the Constitutional Court about suspension of the articles pertaining to immediate execution earlier too, which we think is in in compliance with the Constitution.If the requests of Rustavi 2 and Georgia TV are satisfied by the Constitutional Court, it will overturn civil circulation in Georgia. They challenge the norm which is one of the foundations of a democratic society - the rule of law and supremacy of moral norms," said Salia. 

Gia Volski, member of the parliamentary majority evaluates audio recording released by Ukrainian media involving ex-president Mikheil Saakasvili.Volski does not exclude that former president goes on provocation having certain goal in mind and intentionally tries to involve more people by mentioning different people. However, MP claims that those people mentioned in phone conversations must be questioned. 

Rustavi 2 TV Company will establish a public council. The announcement was made by Head of the TV company`s news service Giorgi Laperashvili."We have in the last two days repeatedly stated the position of Rustavi 2 news service . We are distancing ourselves from the agenda of the political parties and the rules of their games. We want to do the work, which we know - to cover ongoing processes and news. Our aim is to be critical, but objective. However, we realize that due to processes of the last two days, part of the public may have questions about our editorial independence.These questions must be answered in order to ensure our independence, we made the decision to create the council, which will control the content prepared by Rustavi 2’s news service. This includes both the news, as well as analytical and political programs.Today we have discussed this initiative with non-governmental organizations at the meeting. As the initiative was acceptable for the Rustavi 2 journalists, the management and the owners of the channel it was decided to create the public board that will operate as the channel`s self-regulatory mechanism”, said Laperashvili. 

Georgia was ranked as free in terms of internet freedom,  says the Freedom House report Freedom on the Net which evaluates access to the Internet, censorship and the rights of Internet users in the world's 65 countries.According to the report, Internet access and usage continue to grow rapidly in Georgia, particularly as interest in connecting with friends through social-networking sites has increased in recent years. 

The opposition demands holding of TV debates over Constitutional changes. Members of an inter-party group brought the letter to the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) to ask General Director of GPB to allocate live air and ensure hodling of debates.  The opposition demands abolishment of Majoritarian (single mandate) rule of elections for the 2016 parliamentary polls.