About Civil.ge
Eng | Geo | Rus
Last updated: 10:55 - 1 May.'18
RSS
Mobile
Twitter
Facebook
UNM Demonstration Ends With Detentions
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 14 Feb.'17 / 14:50

United National Movement’s (UNM) protest in front of the Tbilisi City Hall ended with the detention of 13 demonstrators.

Approximately 100 activists gathered on February 13, as part of the campaign launched on February 10, to support media freedom in the country and demand ‘fair’ justice over the ongoing ownership dispute of Rustavi 2, one of the most watched TV channels in Georgia.

Earlier, on February 5, Rustavi 2 reported that the family of Natalia Nazgaidze, who chaired the three-judge panel adjudicating Rustavi 2 TV ownership dispute at the Tbilisi Court of Appeals, received  on December 23 land plot and monetary reimbursement worth of one million Lari (USD 375 000) from the state budget in exchange for issuing the ruling against TV station’s current owners.

The allegations were dismissed by Jaba Samushia, deputy chairman of Tbilisi Sakrebulo, who said that money was allocated to Nazgaidze’s brother as a compensation for the land plot that was affected by the 2015 flooding in Tbilisi.

"There is an evidence that a judge was given a bribe worth of one million GEL and there is zero response [from the Government], and on the contrary, they say that it is a lie, but there is a document confirming the fact,” MP Nika Melia, one of UNM’s leaders, told the demonstrators on February 13.

Melia requested to be let in the City Hall building, which was blocked by the guards. Police arrested the demonstrators as they tried to forcefully enter the building.

Tbilisi Mayor’s office released a statement after the demonstration accusing the UNM of “instigating an artificial outcry” and “manipulating” the public.

Current owners of Rustavi 2 are locked in a court battle with its former co-owner Kibar Khalvashi, who tries to regain control over this Tbilisi-based opposition-minded television channel. The TV channel, which claims that former owner’s lawsuit to regain the broadcaster is orchestrated by the government with the aim to seize the channel, lost the battle in the court of first instance and also in the appellate court and took the case to the Supreme Court.

Latest News
01 May.'18 10:55
We Have Moved to a New Platform
Direct Your Bookmarks to https://civil.ge.
29 Apr.'18 03:54
Ruling Party Candidate Wins MP By-Elections
Givi Chichinadze will represent Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency in the Parliament of Georgia.
28 Apr.'18 09:40
Polls Open for Vani and Khoni MP By-Elections
48,123 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency.
27 Apr.'18 17:23
State Dept’s Europe Affairs Point Man to Visit Tbilisi
Wess Mitchell will meet senior government officials and address the NATO-Georgia Public Diplomacy Forum.
27 Apr.'18 13:45
In Quotes: Georgian Politicians on Ex-PM Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Comeback
Bidzina Ivanishvili will be approved as the Georgian Dream party chairman at the upcoming convention.
26 Apr.'18 18:15
SG Jens Stoltenberg: Georgia NATO’s ‘Very Close’ Partner
The NATO Secretary General says Foreign Ministers meeting tomorrow will recognize the country’s progress.
26 Apr.'18 14:24
Ex-PM Ivanishvili to Chair Georgian Dream Party
Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said Ivanishvili was ‘best equipped’ to add new dynamism to the party.
26 Apr.'18 11:12
Lawmaker Proposes Criminal Liability for ‘Insult of Religious Feelings’
The parliamentary human rights committee decided to set up a working group for scrutinizing the draft law.
25 Apr.'18 17:21
New Abkhaz Government Head Appointed
Gennady Gagulia has served as the Abkhaz “prime minister” twice - in 1995-1997, and 2002-2003.
25 Apr.'18 14:43
Watchdog Improves Georgia’s Press Freedom Ranking
None of the countries of the former Soviet Union (except the Baltics) are ranked ahead of Georgia.

About Civil Georgia
Civil.Ge © 2001-2025, Daily News Online
Registered office: 2 Dolidze Str, 4-th Floor.
45