Sixteen people have applied for the vacant post of public broadcaster’s general director before the deadline expired on August 3.

Gia Chanturia, a deputy general director, who assumed duties of acting head of the broadcaster after Levan Kubaneishvili’s resignation on July 20, is among them. He was running for the position in 2008, when the board of trustees elected Levan Kubaneishvili.

Erosi Kitsmarishvili, a founder and former co-owner of Rustavi 2 TV, who was President Saakashvili’s insider and Georgia’s ambassador to Russia before turning into Saakashvili's critic after the August war, is also competing for the post.

A long-time journalist Zviad Koridze, who worked in editorial boards of various newspapers and at different times worked on senior editorial positions in various television stations, will again compete for the post. Like Chanturia, Koridze was also running for the position in 2008.

Giorgi Tsikhiseli, chief of newsroom at a Russian-language RTVi television network, with studios based in Moscow, New York and Tel-Aviv, is also among contenders.

Other candidates are Lali Moroshkina, who once was an anchor at the state TV channel (the public broadcaster is its successor); Marina Salukvadze, who hosted a talk show at Mze TV, as well as Bachuki Bakhtadze; Merab Kelenjeridze; Ketevan Khakhubaia; Merab Chopikashvili; Zurab Magalashvili; Teimuraz Koridze; Giorgi Guberidze; Giorgi Kacharava; Tamaz Bibiluri and Rusudan Metreveli.

The public broadcaster’s board of trustees will make a shortlist out of current 15 candidates by August 6 and the second round, involving interviews with shortlisted candidates, will be held on August 7-8; the board will name new general director on August 10.