The management of the private Georgian TV station Rustavi-2, which has an estimated audience of 300,000 people, continues to protest the station's closure by the Georgian authorities on 17 July, allegedly because the station's charter did not allow it to broadcast on a TV frequency. The station's management has produced documentation proving that it received the appropriate license from the Ministry of Communications, and claims the crackdown was initiated by unspecified forces seeking to sabotage the process of democratization in Georgia, Radio Rossii reported on 23 July.
-- Liz Fuller

On 17 July, in the evening, broadcasting of television channel "Rustavi-2" was stopped. Ministry of Communication and Post Office have made a resolution on abolition of the license. All licenses owned by Rustavi 2 : on 12-th television channel for broadcasting in Tbilisi, on 11-th television channel for broadcasting in Rustavi and several microwave frequencies were canceled.

According to the official document of the Ministry of Communication from 1 July 1996 information and advertising agency "Gamma Plus", owner of the company "Rustavi-2", has no right for the license owing to the lack of stipulated by the law registration." This document was made by the proposal of the Ministry of Justice": said Mr. Erosi Kitsmarishvili, one of the co- founders of "Gamma Plus" and "Rustavi-2"

For the last two years this is the second case of closing of "Rustavi-2". According to Mr.Kitsmarishvili, broadcasting of the company was stopped last year on the basis of the same reason. But Ministry of Justice recognized the legality of the license and "Rustavi-2" was restored. This time the company will bring an action against the Ministry of Communication and Ministry of Justice nevertheless whose interests are involved in the closing of the TV channel "Rustavi-2".

At the press conference on July 19 held in Tbilisi Cinema House, Mr. Erosi Kitsmarishvili presented letters sent last and this year by Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Communications. It is interesting that letter sent this year is dated July 12, 1996, however decision of the License Committee of the Ministry of Communication is dated July 1, 1996.
In 1995 Ministry of Justice reviewed the case upon request from Ministry of Communication, which was approached by major of the Rustavi, city where Rustavi-2 started operation two years ago.

This year Ministry revived the case based on the letter from "NPL Ltd.". The letter is sighed by the president of the company Ms. Pikria Chikhradze. Ms. Chikhradze is a Member of the Georgian Parliament from the governing party "Union of the Citizens of Georgia"- party of the President of Georgia Mr. Eduard Shevardnadze. At the press conference Mr. Kitsmarishvili accused Ms. Chikradze, Governor of Racha-Lechkumi Region Tedo Isakadze and Head of the Youth Department of Georgia Niko Nikolozishvili in demanding fifty percent share of the company for the support they provided in obtaining the broadcasting license. In her letter Ms. Chikhradze is states that "NPL" is a active member of the "Television Network of Georgia", which is not true. In respond Ms. Chikhradze, who was present at press conference, accused founders of the Rustavi-2 in breaking there promises and that she was betrayed by her friends. After this statement she left the hall.

"Rustavi-2" is a television channel owned by "Gamma Plus". It started broadcasting two years ago in city Rustavi. Rustavi is a suburb of Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. In the spring of 1996 "Gamma Plus" obtained a license for broadcasting on 12 television channel in Tbilisi. This June "Restive -2" got on the air with great success. Their information program "Kurieri" won a first places in polls by local organised by newspaper "Alia". Other programs has become very popular also.
"Rustivi - 2" is the strongest station of the "Television Network of Georgia" (TNG), founded by the regional private television companies of Georgia. The network was created with support of "Internews".
The Open Society - Georgia Foundation, affiliate of the Soros Foundation Network in Georgia provided equipment grants to Rustavi- 2 to improve evening news program "Kurieri".

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