OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović said on August 11 that “disproportionate and excessive” court order to freeze Tbilisi-based Rustavi 2 TV’s assets in a dispute over the broadcaster’s ownership may pose a threat to free media and media pluralism. “The court injunction may negatively affect Rustavi [2]’s ability to operate freely,” Mijatović said. “The decision is disproportionate and excessive and may constitute a threat to media pluralism in Georgia.” OSCE said that its media freedom representative has raised the case of Rustavi 2 TV with the Georgian authorities on several occasions in the past.
Kibar Khalvashi, who co-owned Tbilisi-based Rustavi 2 television station in 2004-2006, has filed a lawsuit seeking to claim back his shares in the broadcaster. As an interim measure pending verdict, the Tbilisi City Court judge Tamaz Urtmelidze ordered asset freeze, which bans Rustavi 2 TV’s current shareholders to sell shares, as well as to sell or rent out broadcast equipment, vehicles and other property owned by the company; executive powers of its general director and chief financial officer have also been limited. The judge rejected applicant’s request for freezing broadcaster’s bank accounts. |
|||
Civil.Ge © 2001-2024