Khalvashi hopes that employees that left R2 will change their decision
By Natalia Kochiashvili
Friday, August 23
Owner of Rustavi 2 Kibar Khalvashi released a statement regarding employees leaving TV Company. In his words, “Many journalists made an emotional decision to leave the channel, but I hope that this will change soon, once they are convinced that Rustavi 2 is not betraying its old tradition, it is as critical, unyielding and independent as it was years ago, until it was put under political pressure.”-says Khalvashi.
The 100% shareholder of Rustavi 2 blames former president Mikheil Saakashvili and former director Nika Gvaramia for the recent developments in the TV Company, claiming that they were intentionally destroying the channel.
Khalvashi also reminded the public about the opportunity that was offered to R2 journalists – having an independent editorial policy and working in accordance with the western standard which means critical, objective and impartial broadcasting.
He writes, that some people were fired from the channel for specific reasons, that was perceived as some of the staff as an attempt to interfere with editorial policy, but “no journalist can say that I had been involved in their work during all this time”.
Owner of R2 believes that departure of some journalists was the predictable and only thing required for that was for Gvaramia to call them. Khalvashi believes, that together with Saakashvili, former director was trying to lose the image of Rustavi 2 TV and turn it into a weapon of aggressive party propaganda, tools for which were lies and violence to the consciousness of the public.
He also names financial machinations as the hardest hit that led the TV Company to this situation. According to Khalvashi, Gvaramia, Anjaparidze, Meladze, Laperashvili, Gabunia, as well as former employee Udumashvili, received hundreds of thousands of GEL at a time when the salaries of the company's employees were frozen. “Now they are trying to present these amounts as a bonus, though it is clear that such bonuses were not paid by the company - through this money belonged to R2, it was precipitated in another company. They took it secretly without paying taxes or other employees knowing.” – claims Khalvashi.
He also blames bullying of colleagues on Gvaramia, according to Khalvashi after financial destruction of the company's former director started psychological attacks on employees.
“However, I clearly state that I will do my best to save Rustavi 2 and to rehabilitate the channel in the current situation and to return to the courier that will attract a lot of viewers…We will inform you about the positive news in the coming days! "- says Khalvashi's statement posted on Rustavi 2 website.
On August 20, Paata Salia, Director General of the channel, fired several journalists. Among them was Nodar Meladze, head of the news program. He also said that Giorgi Laperashvili, the main producer of public and political talk show, would be fired upon his return from vacation; The hosts of the political programs Giorgi Gabunia and Eka Kvesitadze and the host of the Nanuka Show Nanuka Zhorzholiani were also fired. Salia named “conflict of interest” as the reason for their release. On August 20, the main news anchors Diana Jojua and Mikheil Sesiashvili left the channel in protest.
On August 21 the main team of the news program "Courier" left Rustavi 2. “P.S.” team and other employees followed them the next day.
