GEORGIA-MEDIA/TELEVISION Georgia's leading independent TV channel faces a shutdown threat

Record ID: 143479

  • Title: GEORGIA-MEDIA/TELEVISION Georgia's leading independent TV channel faces a shutdown threat
  • Date: 19th August 2015
  • Summary: TBILISI, GEORGIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PRESENTER IN GEORGIAN TV CHANNEL RUSTAVI 2 NEWSROOM PRESENTER SEEN ON SCREEN BREAK BUMPER ON SCREEN PRESENTER READING NEWS GENERAL DIRECTOR OF RUSTAVI 2, NIKA GVARAMIA, WALKING THROUGH NEWS ROOM, TALKING ON PHONE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WORKING ON COMPUTERS CAMERAS ON SHELVES (SOUNDBITE) (English) GENERAL DIRECTOR OF RUSTAVI 2, NIKA GVARAMIA, SAYING: "Though the government claim that it has nothing to do with the lawsuit filed against Rustavi 2 by one of the former owners, this case is clearly politically motivated and politically managed. Otherwise how we can explain the fact that right after elections, when the Georgian billionaire [former Prime Minister Bidzina] Ivanishvili came to power, Rustavi 2 became the main object of the constant attacks from the government officials." NEWS ON TV SCREENS (SOUNDBITE) (English) GENERAL DIRECTOR OF RUSTAVI 2, NIKA GVARAMIA, SAYING: "We believe that the main aim is to hush down the only financially independent, sustainable, free and critical media in Georgia in the pre-election period, which is the most important point here and definitely, Georgia's perspective for Euro-Atlantic integration and democratic development will be under threat." VARIOUS OF GVARAMIA SITTING HOLDING POSTER READING (Georgian): 'WE ARE NOT STEPPING BACK' TV CHANNEL VAN IN FRONT OF RUSTAVI 2 OFFICE RUSTAVI 2 VAN (SOUNDBITE) (Georgian) TBILISI RESIDENT, NATIA NADIRASHVILI, SAYING: "Of course, it is unacceptable, as the freedom of expression should be the most important thing in a democratic country. And what is happening now against Rustavi 2 is a crime committed by the government against independent media." (SOUNDBITE) (Georgian) PHOTOGRAPHER FROM TBILISI, DAVID KORIDZE, SAYING: "I think to judge whether Rustavi 2 is good or bad is secondary now. The important thing is that any media (outlet) should be free." PEOPLE IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Georgian) GEORGIAN NATIONAL LIVING IN GERMANY, LORETA GOLETIANI, SAYING: "The freedom of speech is the main thing for the democratic development of the country, and that is why I think such a broadcaster should exist in the country, at least one like it. Though I do not live here [in Georgia], I am convinced that I can still find out some true information from this channel." CARS ON STREET RUSTAVI 2 NEWS SEEN ON TV SCREEN / PEOPLE SITTING ON SOFA RUSTAVI 2 NEWS SEEN ON TV SCREEN WOMAN HOLDING REMOTE CONTROL (SOUNDBITE) (Georgian) TBILISI RESIDENT, LALI TSKHOVREBADZE, SAYING: "We want to leave in a free country. And that is why Rustavi 2 it is necessary and it will be even better if we have more free media outlets. It will help people develop [critical] thinking. This is important for the development of a person, to teach him to make a choice. We, people, should make our own choices and decide what is good or bad for us." TSKHOVREBADZE'S HUSBAND SITTING ON SOFA (SOUNDBITE) (Georgian) TBILISI RESIDENT, LALI TSKHOVREBADZE, SAYING: "And if I do not like something I can simply switch over to something else, but if I like something then I should have a right to watch the channel which I want to watch." RUSTAVI 2 BREAK BUMPER APPEARING ON SCREEN AFTER NEWS
  • Embargoed: 3rd September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Georgia
  • Country: Georgia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4NSJ8MG0AYRDFO4QA0XAUUZ7W
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Georgia's leading independent TV channel Rustavi 2 came under political pressure, facing a shutdown threat.
    A court in the Georgian capital Tbilisi ordered a freeze on property owned by the country's biggest independent TV company, Rustavi 2, in a move critics said was a blow to a free media.
    The ruling, announced by the company on August 7, is an interim measure until the court's final verdict on an ownership dispute. Rustavi 2's former co-owner Kibar Khalvashi is seeking to claim back his shares in one of the most popular independent broadcasters in the former Soviet country.
    The court decision, which prevents Rustavi 2 from selling or renting out movable property, stops short of freezing the TV company's bank accounts.
    The company's management say that Khalvashi's lawsuit is a politically motivated attack on a broadcaster that has been critical of the government in the past.
    "Though the government claim that it has nothing to do with the lawsuit filed against Rustavi 2 by one of the former owners, this case is clearly politically motivated and politically managed. Otherwise how we can explain the fact that right after elections, when the Georgian billionaire [former Prime Minister Bidzina] Ivanishvili came to power, Rustavi 2 became the main object of the constant attacks from the government officials," Rustavi 2 TV's general director, Nika Gvaramia, said, adding that the case casts a shade over democratic development in the country.
    "We believe that the main aim is to hush down the only financially independent, sustainable, free and critical media in Georgia in the pre-election period, which is the most important point here and definitely, Georgia's perspective for Euro-Atlantic integration and democratic development will be under threat," he said.
    The company would appeal the decision in a higher court, he said.
    Khalvashi, who lives abroad, did not make any statement and was not reachable for comment.
    Opposition politicians accused the government of being behind Khalvashi's bid. Government officials have often accused Rustavi 2 of bias, but deny any involvement in this case.
    The residents of Georgian capital were united in support of the TV channel.
    "Of course, it is unacceptable, as the freedom of expression should be the most important thing in a democratic country. And what is happening now against Rustavi 2 is a crime committed by the government against independent media," Tbilisi resident Natia Nadirashvili said.
    "I think to judge whether Rustavi 2 is good or bad is secondary now. The important thing is that any media (outlet) should be free," photographer David Koridze said.
    Georgian national Loreta Goletiani, living in Germany said, the country needs a broadcaster like Rustavi 2.
    "The freedom of speech is the main thing for the democratic development of the country, and that is why I think such a broadcaster should exist in the country, at least one like it. Though I do not live here [in Georgia], I am convinced that I can still find out some true information from this channel," she said.
    Accountant Lali Tskhovrebadze also said there should be more free media in Georgia.
    "We want to leave in a free country. And that is why Rustavi 2 it is necessary and it will be even better if we have more free media outlets. It will help people develop [critical] thinking. This is important for the development of a person, to teach him to make a choice. We, people, should make our own choices and decide what is good or bad for us," she said.
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