Bidzina Ivanishvili announced a new attack on Rustavi2. In a two hour-and-a-half long interview, the broadcasting company has become the subject of Ivanishvili’s attacks for 65 times. The former Prime Minister has directly pointed out that if one turns off Rustavi2 today, “you will see nothing, but prosperity and development in the country”.

Bidzina Ivanishvili: "If you turn off Rustavi2 today, you’ll see nothing but prosperity and development in the country. What we hear from Rustavi2 99% is a lie. There is no different opinion in this television, they have locked different opinion. They have shown so many houses [Luxurious houses of high officials that were aired to indicate possible corruption], they have been making so many tapes, but there is no opportunity for a different opinion in this TV channel. What we should do I will tell you this separately. I am back in politics, unfortunately... and I will manage to strengthen the vertical in the team [Georgian Dream].

The party as well, will become stronger and I will manage to do this in a short period. I assure society that maximum in a year everyone will be called by their name and will have their place. Rustavi2 will not be able to have a significant part of the population as a hostage, and they [Rustavi2] will not be able to prevent hearing different opinion. Before, I only had the right to speak out, now I am the Chairman of the party and I have more rights. Everything will be called by its name.

This lady [Journalist of Rustavi 2, Ms. Eka Kvesitadze] as well, will have her place, of course, in our society. I do not want anyone to think that I threaten her, but she will have her place and a role, she will not have possibility, Rustavi2 will not have possibility, I promise that she [Ms. Eka Kvesitadze] and Rustavi2 will not be able to prevent letting different opinion in the TV channel. I don’t want anyone to have a feeling, that I threaten Rustavi2. Heaven forbid! Heaven Forbid!”

Eka Kvesitadze: You have already threatened us, you have already shut us down as well [decisions of three instances of Georgian Courts].

Bidzina Ivanishvili: [addressing other attending two journalists, indicating about Ms. Eka Kvesitadze:] you see how she interprets that? 

Eka Kvesitadze: But, we [Rustavi2] were saved by the Strasbourg Court. The fact that we still exist today is the result of the decision of the Strasbourg Court.

Bidzina Ivanishvili: [With regard to Rustavi 2] We have a plan, with a PR group that we have established in the party [Georgian Dream Party], to manage it and if they [Rustavi2] follow us... but I don’t have an illusion that they [Rustavi2] will do it... However, we will do our best to let different opinion to be in Rustavi2 and not these lies that I hear [from Rustavi2]. But if they [Rustavi2] don’t agree...

Eka Kvesitadze: Mr Bidzina, are you threatening us?

Bidzina Ivanishvili: No, no, listen to me! Listen to me...

Eka Kvesitadze: Could you please repeat once again, so you will bring different opinion in Rustavi2?

Bidzina Ivanishvili: I will try to help you.

Eka Kvesitadze: How can you help us?

Bidzina Ivanishvili: If you don’t accept it, we’ll call you by your name.

Eka Kvesitadze: Is that a threat? What I see here, something new is being prepared [against Rustavi2].

Bidzina Ivanishvili: [addressing other attending two journalists, indicating about Ms. Eka Kvesitadze:] Look [at her], I am here and look what she is saying. 

Eka Kvesitadze: Once you already had an attempt to shut down Rustavi2. But you could not do that, the Strasbourg Court has saved us.

Bidzina Ivanishvili: Well, your question regarding this issue suits me.

Eka Kvesitadze: Today we hear the same threats from you, that you will come and teach us how to broadcast different opinions.

Bidzina Ivanishvili: We will manage to do the monitoring that is well-known. We will explain to our society and introduce them whether different opinion gets to this television or not and how many lies you broadcast. We will make ratings of those and that is what Ms Eka [Ms. Kvesitadze, Journalist of Rustavi2] calls threats. However maybe for them, it is a threat. Yes, for you it is a threat because you broadcast nothing but lies, and we will reveal it, we will show it.

Eka Kvesitadze: You will not be able to intervene Rustavi2

Bidzina Ivanishvili: God forbid me to intervene Rustavi2! Don’t misinterpret my words! 

Eka Kvesitadze: You just said that today. It is interesting, what is your plan?

Bidzina Ivanishvili: Diana [attending Journalist from TV Pirveli- Diana Trapaidze], we will conduct ratings and show the society that there is no different opinion in Rustavi 2. If they [Rustavi2] do not take it into consideration, simply, the society will learn that this is a television of lies, it serves only a certain part of society.
Diana Trapaidze: In your opinion, the problem is in the reality or you believe that it is the society that perceives information, as you say lies, broadcasted by Rustavi2 as truth?

Bidzina Ivanishvili: It is a good question. You have just asked a question and will be good if you let me answer.

Eka Kvesitadze: Mr. Bidzina, I have one hope: you have not kept any of your promises given to people. I hope that you will not be able to keep your promise regarding Rustavi2 as well.

Bidzina Ivanishvili: [addressing other attending two journalists, indicating about Ms. Eka Kvesitadze:] Can you ask your colleague [Ms.Eka Kvesitadze] to stop?

Diana Trapaidze: I am sorry, Eka you will have an opportunity.

Eka Kvesitadze: It was a threat. I am sorry, Diana, but we have just heard threats and I believe that you should react as well.