NGOs appeal to international organizations regarding Rustavi 2

By Natalia Kochiashvili

Thursday, July 25

Georgian Civil Society addresses the International Organizations in regards to the recent developments around Rustavi 2 TV

Strasbourg Court's decision was unexpected for Rustavi 2 employees. They say with the new owner, Kibar Khalvashi, the change of the channel’s editorial policy will be inevitable.

20 NGOs based and operating in Georgia addressed international organizations to monitor the events taking place around Rustavi 2 TV closely.

“The vicious experience in the Georgian media space shows that the change of the owner or management of the critical broadcaster is directly reflected on the editorial policy of the television, which is expressed in loyalty to the authorities in practice. This development of events may significantly worsen the media environment in Georgia and restrict media pluralism,” the statement reads.

NGOs report that Rustavi 2, which is affiliated with the opposition, “is distinguished by the critical editorial policy towards the ruling party “Georgian Dream.” Officials, including former Prime Minister and informal ruler Bidzina Ivanishvili, did not hide their dissatisfaction with Rustavi 2 and expressed their desire to change their editorial policy.”

According to the appeal, despite the new owner's announcement that he does not intend to change the independent editorial policy of the broadcaster and terminate the labor agreements for journalists, there is still legitimate suspicion that these statements have no substance.

The new owner of Rustavi 2 TV made a statement claiming that there are no plans to change the editorial policy or to dismiss journalists. In spite of these promises, there is reasonable ground to believe that the policy will be affected.

Signing organizations base their concern on the following circumstance: The new owner turned down the journalists’ initiative of creating a public board and did not propose an alternative mechanism that would provide institutional protection.

The public board was to provide safeguards for editorial independence. This board would be composed of reps from the civil society, media experts and persons nominated by the owner and prevent interference in the broadcaster’s editorial policy and to establish safeguards, in light of the new circumstances for the protection of the labor rights of the journalists.

Besides that, according to a statement by the new management, the broadcaster is facing severe financial problems. There is a risk that this circumstance can be used by the new management to dismiss undesirable journalists.

Non-governmental organizations are requesting international organizations to look carefully at the ongoing developments around Rustavi 2 and monitor processes to preserve the broadcaster’s critical editorial policy and to prevent any violations of the labor rights of journalists.

The European Court of Human Rights rendered its judgment on the Rustavi 2 ownership dispute case on July 18, 2019. The decision of the Georgian court system was enforced, and a change was made to the ownership of Rustavi 2; the owner appointed a new director.