Public Defender publishes statement on dismissal of journalists from Rustavi 2
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Thursday, August 22
After the Director of Rustavi 2, Paata Salia announced that he would be firing some well-known journalists from the channel, several international organizations, international corps, NGO’s and the representatives of the Government of Georgia published special statements and made comments.
According to the Statement of the Public Defender of Georgia, since the dismissal of journalists might be linked to their different opinions, Nino Lomjaria expresses her readiness to examine individual cases, to study and assess any materials of the case, including employment contracts within her mandate of the fight against discrimination, if so applied.
As the statement reads, “with the public statement of July 18, 2019, as well as during the meeting with the Director-General of the TV company Rustavi 2, Public Defender emphasized that current processes shall not adversely affect the preservation of pluralistic media environment in the country.”
According to Lomjaria, labor rights of journalists employed in the company and their professional freedom shall be ensured. “despite the promises of the company management, disseminated information reports that employment contracts are terminated with the head of the news service and the journalists of the leading talk shows, which will naturally lead to a change in the channel's information policy,” read the statement.
As for the dismissed journalists, according to the Public Defender, the grounds for their release require further examination and assessment to exclude alleged discriminatory grounds.
On August 20, after Salia fired several journalists from the channel, anchors of the main news program announced that they would be leaving the channel as well. Yesterday, news programs of the channel did not air. “Due to the ongoing events on the channel, Kurieri won’t air. More information will be provided on our website,” read the statement of Rustavi 2.
As the former director of Rustavi 2, Nika Gvaramia wrote on his personal Facebook page, the Main Channel, company which he registered a few days ago, will start broadcasting soon.
According to Gvaramia, they already have investors, “the building of the channel– better than Rustavi 2, I won’t even talk about the technology.” According to him, people who made the best content for Rustavi 2 are working with him now.
According to the MP of the ruling party, Gia Volski, people were fired from Rustavi 2 “because they were intending to destroy the channel. Any other owner would do the same.”
Khalvashi became the 100% shareholder of Rustavi 2 after the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights. He intended to sell the channel, but as he said, because of the financial crisis that the channel is in he was not able to sell it.
