NGOs : The decision made by the Supreme Court strengthens the doubts concerning the interference of the government in the court decision making process

03 March 2017

We are deeply concerned by the decision, made on March 2 by the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court of Georgia, stating that the owner of Rustavi 2 shares will become Kibar Khalvashi (60%) and Ltd Panorama (40%).

In all three instances of judicial proceedings, as well as the final result, do not meet the requirements of an independent court decision and strengthens our doubts concerning the rough interference of the government in the decision making process.

We want to emphasize, that  this decision damages not only the further democratic development of Georgia, but limits freedom of media, pluralistic media environment and threatens Euro-Atlantic integration process.

1. Transparency International Georgia

2. Civil Development Agency

3. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy

4. Open Society Georgia Foundation

5. Georgian Reforms Associates

6. Atlantic Council of Georgia

7. Georgian Farmers Association

8. The Economic Policy Research Center

9. Green Alternative

10. Media Development Foundation

11. UN Association of Georgia

12. Georgian Democracy Initiative

13. Regional Centre for Strategic Studies

14. In Depth Reporting and Advocacy Center

15. Union Safari

16. Georgian Institute of Politics

17. Voice from Georgia

18. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information

19. Society and Banks

20. Media Advocacy Coalition

21. Tolerance and Diversity Institute: TDI