"Rustavi-2" founders not satisfied with Khalvashi's proposals

Kibar Khalvashi, the new owner of the "Rustavi-2" Georgian TV Company, has offered to transfer, free of charge, 40 percent of the company's shares to its two founders; but they were not satisfied with such conditions.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 18, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) declared the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) of Georgia, adopted in 2015, to transfer the assets of the "Rustavi-2" TV Company channel to the former owner Kibar Khalvashi as legitimate. On the same day, Nika Gvaramiya, director general of the company, was fired, and Khalvashi's lawyer Paata Saliya was appointed in his place.

Kibar Khalvashi, the owner of all the shares of the "Rustavi-2" TV Company, began negotiations on transferring part of the shares to the two founders of the company - Djardji Akimidze and David Dvali.

Dvali and Akimidze founded the company together with Erosi Kitsmarishvili, who is no longer alive. Dvali and Akimidze had a 60% stake, the "Sputnik Georgia" reports.

"I've offered them to become partners and get possession of 40 percent of the shares," Mr Khalvashi said on air of the "Rustavi-2" (as translated by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent).

Messrs Akemidze and Dvali have stated that they were not satisfied with the amount of shares offered by Khalvashi, and they refused from it, saying that they were ready to consider Khalvashi's new proposal, if it follows.

Mr Khalvashi has also noted that the new director general of the TV Company does not interfere in the editorial policy and "journalists are as free as never before – they do what they find it necessary."

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 1, 2019 at 02:35 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.