The staff of Rustavi 2 is leaving the channel en masse due to their discontent with the recent staff changes [1] carried out by the new management. On August 20, the new owner of Rustavi 2 Kibar Khalvashi dismissed Nodar Meladze, the Head of TV's News Department, Giorgi Laperashvili, the Deputy General-Director, Eka Kvesitadze and Giorgi Gabunia, the TV anchors for political talk shows “Kviris Akcentebi” and “Archevani”, and Nanuka Zhorzholiani, the author and host of “The Nanuka Zhorzholianis Show”. According to the staff members that left Rustavi 2 TV, they perceived their colleagues’ dismissal on vague grounds as an interference in the critical editorial policy of the channel.
Following the decision of the new management, Diana Jojua and Mikheil Sesiashvili, the co-anchors of the news program “Kurieri”, announced on air that there were also leaving [2] Rustavi 2 TV.
According to the information available to us, the following staff members have also left Rustavi 2:
It has already been over 36 hours since the news program “Kurieri” hasn’t gone on air. Neither have there been any news posted on the official website of Rustavi 2. The hosts of the “Kviris Skhva Shuadge [3]” have also left the channel: Levan Butkhuzi, Salome Dadunashvili and Levan Gambashidze.
We are of the opinion that the new management is making blatant attempts to change the critical editorial policy of the channel, in spite of their public statements that they wouldn’t interfere. It is obvious that the ongoing developments are in line with the interests of the “Georgian Dream – For A Democratic Georgia” ruling party.
It is also noteworthy to mention that Transparency International Georgia will defend the legal interests of Nodar Meladze and Nanuka Zhorzholiani. Upon request, our organization is also ready to provide legal support to other Rustavi 2 staff members.