Thousands celebrate European Court ruling in favor of Georgia's Rustavi 2 TV
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 11 March 2017 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Thousands celebrate European Court ruling in favor of Georgia's Rustavi 2 TV, 11 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a62a13.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
March 11, 2017
Thousands turned out on the streets of Tbilisi on March 11 to show support for the Rustavi TV station.
Thousands of supporters of Georgia's Rustavi 2 TV have gathered in central Tbilisi to celebrate a recent ruling in favor of the broadcaster by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
The Strasbourg-based court on March 7 indefinitely prolonged its suspension of a Georgian Supreme Court decision to place Rustavi 2 under the control of a close supporter of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Critics allege that the Georgian court's ruling is an attempt to stifle the only strong Georgian media organization that airs critical views of the government.
Rustavi 2 Director-General Nika Gvaramia said on March 11 that there is "reason to celebrate for now, but we have the feeling we have just won a battle – not the whole war."
An attorney for Rustavi 2, Tamata Muradashvili, says the ECHR's prolonged "interim measure" allows her legal team to prepare a case they will file at the European court to challenge the Georgian court decision.
With reporting by AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
