Accordingly, taking some time to watch some of them seems the best possible way of getting deep into its culture, core values and entertainment. The changes were conducted by means of series of suspicious deals and transections. This pressure culminated by the National Security Service conducting an illegal raid on Rustavi 2, forcefully entering its premises without having any court authorization or other legal justification. The moment the loyalty of a given owner would become questionable, the company would change hands immediately. He was the owner of the company during 2004-2006. On top of this, Rustavi 2 was under a constant pressure from the government on a daily basis. The shortage of finances was compensated by our technical and innovative skills, unlimited energy and enthusiasm.
In both instances, on the background of great support from public as well as from Western Diplomats and non-government organizations, we won the court cases and achieved the restoration of broadcast license. Meanwhile, Kibar Khalvashi appealed to the court. One of the well-recognized broadcasting companies in Georgia, revolutionizing how millions of viewers consume all kinds of content, being updated to current worldwide trends, Rustavi 2 was founded in 1994 by following business-minded individuals: Erosi Kitshkhmarishvili, David Dvali and Jarji Akhimadze. This decision was immediately followed up by the appeal of the opposite side to the European Court in Strasbourg. As an outcome, we, the founders and the owners of then-independent broadcasting company Rustavi 2, were forced by the government of Georgia to give up the company.
When we refused to voluntarily give up the company, the pressure intensified and finally became unbearable. After the first extortion, during 8 years the company changed more than 15 owners. Till 2001 the founders and the owners of the company were : David Dvali, Jarji Akimidze and Erosi Kitsmarishvili. This attack did not achieve its goal, and instead, it backfired: Due to the fact that it was broadcasted live, it became widely observed and triggered an enormous public protest. Their strategies with respect to us Akimidze and Dvali and with respect to Kitsmarishvili, were diversified. As a result, the government forces had to back off. Being an independent pro-western media company, from the very beginning Rustavi 2 was under a strong pressure from the Georgian government.
. In 2001 the owner of 10% share of Rustavi 2 became Nikoloz Tabatadze. The details of the case are described in numerous witness accounts and other linked materials. This was achieved by revoking the broadcast license, since the dominant political groups were requesting the control over the news policy. The latter court suspended the implementation of the decision of Supreme Court of Georgia until the conclusion of the case in Strasbourg European Court, where currently the case is pending.
Below, we shall review our story in Rustavi 2 case. This offer carried an important ethical weight, as it clearly demonstrated that violation of our rights in 2004 were widely recognized. Each of us owned 33,3% of the shares of the company. In recognition of pre-existing violation of our rights by the National Movement government, he offered as a possible settlement in case of his victory to restore 50% of share of the company and the management to us, Jarji Akimidze and David Dvali. Without such conclusion it is impossible to move the case into the Georgian court. We, the founders and the former owners of Rustavi 2, immediately began the legal fight in order to restore our rights that were violated by the government in 2004.
As a result of this revocation Rustavi 2 was shut down for the periods of two and nine months respectively. This sounded paradoxical, as the very same government had declared to our Western Partners the loyalty to democratic values. How it all started — 1994-2004 In 1994 being young enthusiasts, we have created the company Rustavi 2 from scratch, fully relying on our own limited resources. From 2012 — present In 2012, after the parliamentary elections the government was changed. In March of 2017 the Supreme Court granted the ownership of the broadcasting company Rustavi 2 to Khibar Khalvashi. Although an investigation was launched, evidences had been gathered, dozens of witnesses had been interviewed and the fact of crime has been clearly demonstrated, the investigation authority has not charged any person committing the crime until now.
The purpose of these series of changes was two-fold. As the hearings of the Kibar Khalvashi case began in Georgian court system, it attracted a lot of attention from general public as well as from media, political circles, local and international non-governmental organizations. All three founders contributed equally to this value, and correspondingly, the shares of each founder were reduced to 30% respectively. First, the clear purpose was to distance the company from its founders as much as possible, in order to make — in case of any attempt from our side — the restoration of our property rights as complicated as possible. .
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