New channel financed by wanted Georgian minister appeals for license
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Thursday, August 15
Formula Creative, which used to produce series for Rustavi 2 private broadcaster, has appealed to the National Communication Agency of Georgia to allow broadcasting for their new channel Formula from October.
The channel is to be funded by former Defence Minister of Georgia under the United National Movement government David Kezerashvili, who is wanted for several possible offences.
Formula Creative announced the creation of the new channel at the end of July, shortly after the European Court of Human Rights allowed the return of 100 percent of shares of Rustavi 2 to its former owner Kibar Khalvashi.
Zuka Gumbaridze, who will be the director of the new channel, says that the TV will cover the whole Georgia and offer political and entertaining shows, as well as TV series, including one of the most popular series formerly aired by Rustavi 2- My Wife’s Friends.
Misha Mshvildadze, from the Formula Creative, vows that Kezerashvili will not influence the channel’s editorial policy.
Kezerashvili promised the same.
“I believe that the fight against Russian propaganda needs continued activity, and the western choice of the Georgian people needs to be protected. That is why I have decided to set up a new television platform together with our friends to ensure this protection.
“The platform will support not any particular party, group, or elite unity – but the whole civil society, the voice of freedom and progress in our country,” said Kezerashvili.
Former nine-percent shareholder of Rustavi 2 Nino Nizharadze has failed a lawsuit against former leadership of Rustavi 2, accusing them of making illegal deals with Formula Creative which caused millions of losses for the channel and her.
She said that the deals aimed to accumulate funds in the Formula Creative for opening a new channel after Rustavi 2 leadership lost the case in the European Court.
The new channel is scheduled to open before 2020 parliamentary elections.
Kezerashvili, 41, served as chief of financial police from 2004 to 2006, after which he was appointed as the country’s Defense Minister until December 2008.
Georgian Prosecutor’s Office accuses Kezerashvili of bribe-taking, smuggling and money laundering. He is also facing charges of illegal seizure of Georgian TV station Imedi in 2007.
