The staff of Rustavi 2 is leaving the channel en masse due to their discontent with the recent staff changes 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 Rustavi 2 TV.

According to the information available to us, the following staff members have also left Rustavi 2:

1. Paata Iakobashvili
2. Keti Kvachantiradze
3. Tamar Chavchavadze
4. Anna Tsereteli
5. Tengo Gogotishvili
6. Sopho Zurabiani
7. Keti Kebadze
8. Teo Goligashvili
9. Sopho Khutsishvili
10. Tamar Bagashvili
11. Keti Nadibaidze
12. Davit Eradze
13. Davit Kashiashvili
14. Sopho Vardiashvili
15. Tea Adeishvili
16. Lasha Kveseladze
17. Gvantsa Sutidze
18. Natia Trapaidze
19. Nino Samkurashvili
20. Eko Maghradze
21. Gigla Tumanishvili
22. Maiko Lomidze
23. Eka Gagua
24. Jeikhun Muhamedali
25. Mariam Gaprindashvili
26. Nino Gazdeliani
27. Rusudan Jabanishvili
28. Tamta Dolenjashvili
29. Keta Tsitskisvhili
30. Anuki Buava
31. Ema Gogokhia
32. Tamar Chantladze
33. Natia Gogsadze
34. Tako Surguladze
35. Marika Gotsiridze
36. Davit Dvalishvili
37. Nina Machabeli
38. Keti Soboni
39. Mariam Shanshiashvili
40. Jana Akopashvili
41. Tamta Jikia
42. Tatia Tsotsonava
43. Maka Pankvelashvili
44. Nino Vardzelasvhili
45. Sopho Natsvlishvli
46. Nino Shurgaia
47. Maka Andronikashvili
48. Nino Kekelia
49. Sopho Khutsishvili
50. Nino Dvalishvili
51. Natia Jamerashvili
52. Eka Saria
53. Tamar Meskhi
54. Nana Sisvadze
55. Rusudan Giorgadze
56. Giorgi Gvishiani
57. Ia Guliashvili
58. Anuka Elizbarashvili
59. Tea Varshalomidze
60. Vladimer Menabde
61. Nino Ghvedashvili
62. Keti Maisashvili

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” 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.