ECHR indefinitely suspends enforcement of Georgian Supreme Court ruling on Rustavi 2 TV case

The European Court on Human Rights (HER) has suspended for indefinite period, until the final verdict, the enforcement of Georgian Supreme Court ruling on the oppsition Rustavi 2 TV ownership case – Rustavi 2 TV general Director, Nika Gvaramia, reported.

“The Strasbourg Court’s chamber dealing with the case has unanimously ruled on indefinite extension of the interim measures to secure the claim, approved on March 3.

Georgian government is prohbited to enforce the Supreme Court ruling until this right is garnted to it by the European Court on Human Rights,” Gvaramia stated.

In his words, the case Rustavi 2 TV vs. Georgia has gone down in the history of the European judiciary. He thanked the TV company staff and supporters.

• On March 2, Georgian Supreme Court delivered a judgment on the opposition Rustavi 2 TV ownership case. Under the court ruling, the TV company was transferred back to its former owners. 60% of the TV company’s shares were transferred to businessman Kibar Khalvashi, whereas 40% – to ‘Panorama’ LLC.

• On March 3, the European Court on Human Rights suspended enforcement of the Georgian Supreme Court ruling on Rustavi 2 TV case until March 8.

• TV company administration, journalists, opposition political parties and the majority of NGOs consider as groundless the ownership claims laid by Kibar Khalvashi (who is believed to be the government-loyal) and view the judicial proceedings on Rustavi 2 TV case as the authorities’ attempt to get hold of the independent broadcaster.