On Wednesday 8 March, the European External Action Service (EEAS) said it was "confident" the Georgian authorities would respect the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding the Georgian television channel, Rustavi 2.
In a letter of 3 March, the ECHR confirmed until further notice the suspension of the enforcement of the verdict of Georgia's Supreme Court on 2 March regarding the channel's ownership rights. "The Supreme Court's verdict might have an impact on the country's media landscape, affecting the diversity of views available to citizens through broadcasting channels", the EEAS stated in a press release. According to Georgia's Supreme Court, Rustavi 2 (the country's biggest independent television channel) should be handed over to its former co-owner, businessman Kibar Khalvashi, who has alleged ties to the government (see EUROPE 11422). The ECHR also states that the authorities should abstain from interfering in Rustavi-2 TV's editorial policy.
"A continued commitment to political pluralism and freedom of the media is fundamental for the preservation and consolidation of democracy", the EEAS stated, adding that it trusted "the Georgian government will treat these principles as an absolute priority and will actively uphold them". (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)