Kitsmarishvili refuses to pay debts of "Maestro" Georgian TV Channel

Erosi Kitsmarishvili, political secretary of the "Georgian Party", denies that he has any debts to or for the "Maestro".

Let us remind you that earlier Kakha Bekauri, Director General of the "Maestro", moved an ultimatum to Erosi Kitsmarishvili, founder of the Company "Rustavi Media Management", which includes the "Maestro", to solve the financial problems of the TV Channel within 10 days.

"Mr Kitsmarishvili has already made a statement regarding the accusations moved by the Channel management, and wouldn't like to make further comments," said the source of the "GHN" Agency from the "Georgian Party".

A scandal burst out around the "Maestro" in late 2010. According to the present Director General of the channel Mamuka Glonti, its founder Erosi Kitsmarishvili stopped funding the "Maestro" for his political purposes; the channel was forced to switchover to the emergency operation mode.

"We were disconnected from the Internet; soon electricity will be cut off. Kitsmarishvili left a huge debt to us. Ask him whether he is going to cover the indebtedness, and if not - why. He came to the channel aiming to support the media; is this called a support?" the "Georgia Online" quotes Mr Glonti as asking.

According to Mr Glonti, the "Maestro" will wait for Kitsmarishvili's reaction for 10 days. "If he wants war, he'll have it," he said.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Mr Bekauri, the previous Director General of the "Maestro", resigned, having made this decision, in his words, to make it easier for the founders to find the way out of the critical situation, related to the channel's financial problems, which appeared, among other things, because Kitsmarishvili decided to go to politics.

On the other hand, according to the press service of the "Georgian Party", headed by the former Ombudsman of Georgia Sozar Subari, for the past nine months Erosi Kitsmarishvili has not participated or interfered in managing the broadcaster or its editorial policy.