Rustavi 2 founders accuse gov’t of not restoring justice
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, July 29
Rustavi 2 founders David Dvali and Jarki Akimidze have accused the Georgian Dream government of non-enforcement justice regarding the illegal seizure of Rustavi 2 TV from them in 2004, by the United National Movement government.
They said during a meeting with MPs on July 26 that the current government, which promised to restore justice prior to 2012 elections, failed to investigate the case.
Earlier in June they demanded the continuation of the investigation on the ‘illegal seizure’ as the case limitation period, 15 years, expired on June 16 and “nobody has been punished so far for the illegal seizure.”
The investigation continued.
Akimidze and Dvali, who founded the channel in 1994, say that it might have been wrong to stand by Kibar Khalvashi in 2017, when the latter filed a lawsuit against the owners of Rustavi 2, saying that the channel was illegally seized from him in 2006.
All the three, Akimidze, Dvali and Khalvashi confirm the agreement in 2017 on handing over of 50 percent of Rustavi 2 shares to Akimidze and Dvali if Khalvashi won the case, as well as the appointment of Dvali as director-general of Rustavi 2.
When Khalvashi finally won the case on July 18, by the verdict of the European Court of Human Rights, he appointed his lawyer Paata Salia as the director-general of the channel.
However, Khalvashi vowed that he will keep a promise and continue talks with Akimidze and Dvali.
“We have met Salia on July 25. However, it was a welcome meeting only, we just shared information. We think that a meeting with Khalvashi will take place soon and we will voice the details with the media after,” Dvali said.
They say if they will not have guarantees that Rustavi 2 remains as it is now, “no agreement or cooperation is possible.”
“Currently we see threats [to the editorial policy]. However, we will be able to speak about the details only after the meeting with Khalvashi is held,” they said.
If Khalvashi allows the handing over of 50 percent of shares to Dvali and Akimidze and appoints Dvali a new director-general, he will not be able to dismiss Dvali later, as he will not have enough, 51 percent of shares for this.
