Today Gunnar Hökmark expressed regret and serious concern over the decision by the Georgian Supreme Court to grant ownership of the independent television channel Rustavi 2 to Kibar Khalvashi, a close associate of the Georgian government and of oligarch and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.
”The decision taken by the Supreme Court today is regrettable, and pose a serious threat to media plurality, editorial independence and transparent media in Georgia. Rustavi 2 must stay independent, and I call on the Georgian Constitutional Court to look into the proceedings of the case and allegations of Government pressure on judges of the Supreme Court.” said Gunnar Hökmark.