Former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili intends to return Rustavi 2 TV and to transfer 80% of its shares to journalists.

As the former Defense Minister explains, he was a real owner of the TV company and then, transferred the share to Kibar Khalvashi nominally and it is confirmed by a relevant document.

“He [Kibar Khalvashi] has never been the owner of “Rustavi 2”. He has always been a nominal figure and represented other person- in this case, he represented me. This is confirmed in the agreement, based on which I am complaining. But it is not interesting.

“I understand very well how much important is to maintain the existence of Rustavi 2 within the current format. I intend to transfer 80% of my request [Okruashvili demands 100 % of Rustavi 2 company shares] to about ten independent, striving journalists with free of charge in order they to continue dispute with Khalvashi, in this case with Khalvashi, although Ivanishvili is actually standing behind all of this,” Irakli Okruashvili said in his interview with “Rustavi 2.”

The former defence minister noted that he plans to arrive in Georgia tonight.

“I am going to meet with these journalists tomorrow and offer them my conditions. In case of their readiness I will transfer about 80% of shares to them,” Okruashvili said.

According to the ex-defence minister he has lent money to Kibar Khalvashi long ago and the dispute is underway in connection with the financial part. “But Kibar Khalvashi claims the document is false and refuses to arrive in Samkharauli [National Forensics Bureau] to determine the authenticity of signing the document,” Okruashvili said.