"We are closely watching the developments around Rustavi2 Broadcasting Company since we believe that this case will have a significant impact on freedom of expression, media environment and development of democracy in Georgia. Unfortunately, the signs that the process in the Georgian Court was not devoid of political influence were obvious still in the first instance court. The judge of the first instance trial issued which gave the possibility to the government to intervene in the broadcaster`s editorial independence and to instruct it how to run its activities. In parallel with the trial proceeding on Rustavi 2 case, the government officials constantly criticized the editorial policy of the broadcaster and the Supreme Court made a decision in the shortest time on such an important case which besides of being substantial in volume is of overall importance. This and other facts in various instances of the Georgian Court have created the impression that the current owners of Rustavi2 were deprived of the right for a fair trial inside the country . Against this background, we welcome the fact that the European Court of Human Rights has given the priority to the Rustavi 2 case and temporary suspended the enforcement of the court decision. We hope that the European Court of Human Rights will maintain the interim decsion until the final desicion on the case is rendered and the independent media outlet will be able to continue broadcasting until the end of the dispute in the European Court ensuring the existence of pluralistic media environment in the country .

The decision of the European Court of Human Rights on Rustavi 2 case is important for the public, as the government claims that this is a dispute between two parties which a certain part of the society does not agree with and believes that this is a government`s attempt to take over the most watchable and most critical of the government channel. We think the European Court`s decision will contribute to the societal consensus on the matter due to the high trust in the European Court of the public. Media pluralism in Georgia is especially important now because in parallel with the dispute regarding the ownership of Rustavi 2, the future of the public broadcaster has become an issue of discussion. The new management of the Public broadcaster that raised questions about its political impartiality,presented a new development plan which provides for the closure of all of the program until 2018. Against this background, the change of ownership of the country`s most popular and top-rated, independent of the government channel change may jeopardize Georgian democracy and the access of the citizens to unbiased information and diverse opinions. "

Signatories:

Nino Jangirashvili - Director of the Caucasus Broadcasting Company;
Mamuka Glonti- Director of Maestro Radio;
Ilia Kikabidze - Maestro Ltd director;
Lika Basilaia - web portal "Europe for Georgia";
Diana Trapaidze - "TV Pirveli " anchor;
Irakli Tabliashvili - public TV journalist;
Giorgi Isakadze - author of Georgian Bussinessmedia Foundation programs;
Merab Metreveli - journalist;
Ia Bobokhidze - Regional Media Association;
Nestan Tsetskhladze - chief editor of "The Netgazeti" ;
Air Turadze - magazine editor in chief of the newspaper;
Tazo Kupreishvili - On.ge- Chief Editor;
Genadi Uchumbegashvili - Internews - Georgia"s.