RUSTAVI 2 BROADCASTING COMPANY LTD AND OTHERS v. GEORGIA

Communicated on 28 November 2017 FIFTH SECTIONApplication no. 16812/17RUSTAVI 2 BROADCASTING COMPANY LTD and Othersagainst Georgialodged on 3 March 2017STATEMENT OF FACTS1.  The first applicant, Rustavi 2 Broadcasting Company Ltd (hereinafter “Rustavi 2”), is one of the most popular national television channels in Georgia and has been operating under this name since 27 August 1996, the date of its registration under Georgian corporate law. Its headquarters are situated in Tbilisi.2.  The second applicant, TV Company Sakartvelo Ltd (hereinafter “TV Sakartvelo”) is a media company registered in Georgia on 16 July 1997. TV Sakartvelo is owned by the third and fourth applicants (see paragraph 3 below). In particular, the second applicant is a 60% shareholder, whilst the third applicant owns 40% of the shares in the second applicant.3.  The third and fourth applicants, Mr Levan Karamanishvili …