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{{short description|Georgian television channel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}{{Infobox television channel
| name = Rustavi 2
| logo = Rustavi 2 logo.png
| logo_size = 200px
| headquarters = [[Tbilisi]]
| country = {{GEO}}
| language = [[Georgian language|Georgian]], [[English language|English]]
| slogan = 
| owner = [[Kibar Khalvashi]] (2019-)
| launch_date = 1 June 1994
| key_people = CEO: [[Bakur Bakuradze]]
| website = [http://www.rustavi2.ge/ www.Rustavi2.ge]
| sat_radio_serv_1 = 
| sat_radio_chan_1 = 
| sat_radio_serv_2 = 
| sat_radio_chan_2 = 
| online_serv_1 = 
| online_chan_1 = 
| picture_format = [[Aspect ratio (image)#16:9 HD|16:9]] [[high-definition television|HDTV]]
| sister_channels = 
| founder = [[Erosi Kitsmarishvili]]<br>[[David Dvali]]<br>[[Jarji Akimidze]]
}}

'''Rustavi 2''' ({{lang-ka|რუსთავი 2|tr}}, "Rustavi ori") is a [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] [[free-to-air]] television channel based in [[Tbilisi]], that was founded in 1994 in the town of [[Rustavi]] (hence its name).

It is an associate member of the [[European Broadcasting Union]]. Its news service has bureaus and regional reporters in major Georgian cities ([[Kutaisi]], [[Batumi]], [[Gori, Georgia|Gori]], [[Poti]], [[Zugdidi]]), as well as the permanent correspondents in [[Washington D.C.]], [[Brussels]] and [[Moscow]]. The independence of the channel was questioned recently, with many suggesting that it was biased in favor of the former ruling party [[United National Movement (Georgia)|UNM]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=19352|title=Civil.Ge - Imedi TV to Resume News on Monday|first=Civil|last=Georgia|website=www.civil.ge}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav032608b.shtml|title=News Corporation: A Farewell to Georgia?|first=Giorgi|last=Lomsadze|date=25 March 2008|via=EurasiaNet}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geotimes.ge/index.php?m=home&newsid=1534|title=Geotimes - მთავარი|website=www.geotimes.ge|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128212151/http://geotimes.ge/index.php?m=home&newsid=1534|archive-date=2011-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ejc.net/media_landscape/article/georgia |title=Georgian Government Controls Six TV Stations |publisher=HumanRights.ge |date=2008-03-24 |access-date=2015-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091013021950/http%3A//www.ejc.net/media_landscape/article/georgia/ |archive-date=2009-10-13 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.humanrights.ge/index.php?a=article&id=2523&lang=en|title="Georgian Government Controls Six TV Stations"|website=HUMANRIGHTS.GE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jamestown.org/edm/email-to-friend.php?article_id=2368328 |title=Georgian Media Shackled After Rose Revolution - Eurasia Daily Monitor |access-date=2008-10-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020204538/http://www.jamestown.org/edm/email-to-friend.php?article_id=2368328 |archive-date=2006-10-20 }}</ref> and recently in favor of the current ruling party [[Georgian Dream]].

==History==
It was formed in 1994 and had been in a strong opposition to [[Eduard Shevardnadze]]’s government since then. The channel shut down due to allegedly losing its license a year later. The [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] authorities made several attempts to shut R2 down. [[Giorgi Sanaia]], Georgia’s most popular TV journalist, who worked for R2, was murdered in July 2001. It has been considered by many as a political murder related to his programme "Night Courier" and investigations of allegations of official corruption. In October 2001, the security police raid on the R2 office resulted in public anger and subsequent mass street demonstrations against the government's pressure on independent media forced [[Eduard Shevardnadze]] to fire his entire cabinet. On 15 March 2003, to coincide with the launch of its sister channel [[Imedi Media Holding|Imedi TV]], Rustavi 2 introduced a new logo which consists of a zig-zagged abstract 2-numeral that is coloured bronze and are made up of gradient effects. Rustavi 2 was the main media source used as a tribune by the opposition leaders during the [[Rose Revolution]] in November 2003. On 25 December 2009, to celebrate its 15th anniversary, Rustavi 2 adopted a new logo during its Christmas special.

On 14 December 2012, [[Nika Gvaramia]] was appointed as the general director of the channel. On 18 July 2019, he was replaced by [[Paata Salia]], who is the lawyer of [[Kibar Khalvashi]], current owner of the channel.

On 17 July 2025, [[Bakur Bakuradze]] became new general director.

==Logos==
<gallery>
File:Rustavi 2 1994 (1).svg|First logo used from 1 June 1994 to 1996
File:Rustavi 2 1996 logo.svg|Second logo used from 1996 to 2003
File:Rustavi2-logo.png|Third logo used from 2003 to 25 December 2009
File:Rustavi 2 logo.png|Fourth and current logo used from 25 December 2009 to 27 January 2014 and 23 January 2017–present
File:Rustavi 2 logo Jan 2014.png|Fifth logo used from 27 January 2014 to 23 January 2017
</gallery>

==Programming==
===Kurieri (Courier)===
The news programme ''[[Courier (TV programme)|Courier]]'' has aired since the foundation of Rustavi 2 and has become one of the most successful news programs in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

The daytime news was anchored by [[Ana Kinkladze]], [[Keti Kvachantiradze]] and [[Natia Goksadze]].
[[Diana Jojua]] and [[Zaal Udumashvili]] anchored the evening news at 18:00 and 21:00, including sports with [[Dimitri Oboladze]]. [[David Kikalishvili]] presents "P.S." every Sunday at 21:00.

===Business Courier===
From 2006 new television season Rustavi 2 airs Business Courier. The program offers in-depth reporting and critical analysis of major business issues today with an emphasis on current events, business development, market outlooks, and emerging opportunities.

===P.S.===
P.S. is a weekly analytical and educational summarizing program, which focuses on politics, economics and social problems; the project also covers topical cultural issues. ''P.S.'' often reports on various international events related to [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. The program is anchored by [[Giorgi Gabunia]].

==Ownership==
{{Update|date=July 2009}}
Rustavi 2 was originally owned by [[Erosi Kitsmarishvili]], [[David Dvali]], [[Jarji Akimidze]] and [[Nika Tabatadze]]. In July 2004, 90% of the company's shares were bought by the [[Batumi]]-based businessman [[Kibar Khalvashi]], who was forced by then president [[Mikheil Saakashvili]] to sell the company, in January 2006, to David Bezhuashvili, member of the [[Parliament of Georgia]] and brother of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]'s Foreign Minister [[Gela Bezhuashvili]]. In mid-2006 Rustavi 2, the television company ''Mze TV'' and radio station ''Pirveli Stereo'' merged into a holding which is currently owned by the [[Georgian Industrial Group]] (GIG) and GeoMedia Group. GIG, which owns a 45% share of both stations, is a large company with diversified business interests ranging from coal mining and energy to travel. Davit Bezhuashvili, is a founding member of the group. The GeoMedia group is a relatively obscure company registered in the [[Marshall Islands]].<ref>[http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16597 TVs Submit Ownership Papers]. Civil Georgia. 2007-12-17.</ref>

On 2 March 2017, the [[Supreme Court of Georgia (country)|Supreme Court of Georgia]] declared that the owners of the company were [[Kibar Khalvashi]] (60% shares) and Panorama Ltd. (40% shares). On 3 March the company submitted an appeal to the [[European Court of Human Rights]], which, in its turn, on 4 March 2017 suspended the Supreme Court decision until 8 March and requested additional documentation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.georgianjournal.ge/society/33370-strasbourg-court-suspends-the-enforcement-of-the-supreme-court-decision-on-rustavi-2-case.html|title=Strasbourg Court suspends the enforcement of the Supreme Court decision on Rustavi 2 case|date=4 March 2017|publisher=Georgian Journal|access-date=12 March 2017}}</ref> On 18 July 2019, the European Court of Human Rights found no violation by the Georgian courts in the Rustavi 2 case which lifted the suspension mechanism, thus returning the company to its owner, Kibar Khalvashi.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://1tv.ge/en/news/strasbourg-courts-decision-violation-of-convention-on-rustavi-2s-case-not-established-and-suspension-mechanism-lifted/|title=Strasbourg Court decision: Violation of Convention into Rustavi 2's case not established and suspension mechanism lifted|date=18 July 2019|publisher=1tv.ge|access-date=15 August 2019}}</ref>

==Perception of Bias==
From February 2012 – August 2014, the [[National Democratic Institute]] conducted polls which included a question about which media organizations represented the interest of which political factions. A plurality of respondents in each case believed that Rustavi 2 represented the [[United National Movement (Georgia)|United National Movement]] (or, in the case of the February 2012 poll, the government, which was at the time controlled by the UNM). The results of the polls which asked this question is summarized below.<ref>[https://www.ndi.org/georgia-polls Library of NDI Georgia Public Opinion Research]. National Democratic Institute. Retrieved October 20, 2022</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Percent of respondents who believe that Rustavi 2 represents the interests of a political faction
|-
! Date !! Represents UNM !! Neither/None !! Don't Know !! Other
|-
| {{date table sorting |February 2012}} || 69% (Government) || 8% || 21% || 2%
|-
| {{date table sorting |November 2012}} || 58% || 13% || 25% || 4%
|-
| {{date table sorting |June 2013}} || 47% || 15% || 32% || 6%
|-
| {{date table sorting |September 2013}} || 47% || 24% || 24% || 4%
|-
| {{date table sorting |November 2013}} || 39% || 29% || 26% || 6%
|-
| {{date table sorting |April 2014}} || 46% || 22% || 28% || 4%
|-
| {{date table sorting |August 2014}} || 42% || 20% || 35% || 3%
|}
According to Rustavi 2 statement on Self-regulation, an interested person who believes that "Rustavi 2" has violated any ethical standards established by the "Code of Conduct of Broadcasters" and his rights, can appeal to the broadcaster with a complaint and demand a response.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Self-Regulation |url=https://rustavi2.ge/ka/tvg |website=Rustavi2}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.rustavi2.ge/ Rustavi 2 official website] {{in lang|ka|en}}
* [http://rustavi2.ge/en/dvr Rustavi 2 Live]

{{Television in Georgia}}
{{European Broadcasting Union Members}}

[[Category:Television stations in Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Mass media in Rustavi]]
[[Category:Mass media in Tbilisi]]
[[Category:Mass media companies of Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Companies based in Tbilisi]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1994]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1994]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Georgian-language television stations]]