Okruashvili challenges Khalvashi's rights for "Rustavi-2"

The shares of the "Rustavi-2" TV Company were just formally documented for Kibar Khalvashi, while they were actually bought out by the oppositionist Irakli Okruashvili, the latter's advocates have asserted. They demanded to arrest the assets of the "Rustavi-2" for the period of litigation with Khalvashi.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 18, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found the decision of the Georgian Supreme Court (SC) to transfer the assets of the "Rustavi-2" TV Company to its former owner Kibar Khalvashi as legitimate. On the same day, Nika Gvaramiya, the director general of the company was fired; and Paata Saliya, a Khalvashi's advocate, was appointed in his place. However, Gvaramiya stated that he would not leave his post, adding that his contract was valid until the end of 2020.

Mr Okruashvili claims that he bought the TV Company in 2004, and in 2010, he documented the company, free of charge, to his authorized representative, who was Khalvashi. According to the agreement concluded in Berlin, Khalvashi refused from his claims to the TV Company, otherwise having obliged to pay Okruashvili 7 million US dollars, Giya Chodelashvili, an Okruashvili's lawyer, has stated.

The validity of the agreement concluded by Okruashvili with Khalvashi was confirmed by three different examinations, including the examination of the Paris Court of Appeal, said Anna Reviashvili, one of the leaders of the "Victorious Georgia" Party created by Okruashvili.

According to Ms Reviashvili, the claim for the arrest of the assets of the "Rustavi-2" is a temporary measure to secure the claim. Okruashvili's representatives are planning to file a lawsuit on July 22, the "News-Georgia" has reported.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 19, 2019 at 04:05 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.