After the October 1, 2012 parliamentary elections, the television company Rustavi 2 became known for its sharply critical stance toward the new Georgian Dream government. In November 2012, Nika Gvaramia—former high-ranking official under the United National Movement government—was appointed as the channel’s director.

The channel had been broadcasting since 1994, during Eduard Shevardnadze’s Citizens’ Union administration. Its founders were businessmen Erosi Kitsmarishvili, Davit Dvali, and Jarji Akimidze.

Shevardnadze’s government attempted several times to shut down the channel, but due to its high public trust and strong audience support, it failed. After the Rose Revolution, when Shevardnadze’s party was replaced by Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement, Rustavi 2 became known as “the television of the victorious people” (for a time, this phrase was even part of its logo). It stopped criticizing the government and adopted a pro-government editorial line.

Before the 2012 parliamentary elections, Rustavi 2 had changed ownership 16 times. Davit Dvali and Jarji Akimidze had ceased to be shareholders in June 2004, and their shares were transferred to Kibar Khalvashi and his company, LLC Panorama. After Georgian Dream came to power, the channel was owned by Giorgi Gegeshidze and brothers Levan and Giorgi Karamanishvili.

Kibar Khalvashi began a legal battle in 2015 to reclaim ownership of Rustavi 2. He claimed that he and his company Panorama had been forced to sell 100% of their shares—worth about 7 million GEL by his estimate—for only $268,997, and that he never actually received the payment.

The Karamanishvili brothers argued that the price reflected the market value at the time since Khalvashi himself had previously purchased the company for a similar amount.

On November 3, 2015, Judge Tamaz Urtmelidze ruled in favor of Kibar Khalvashi.

On June 10, 2016, the Tbilisi Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s decision.

The first protest in support of Rustavi 2 took place on February 10, 2017, before the Supreme Court hearing. It was organized by the opposition party United National Movement, whose leaders called on the court not to make a politically influenced decision.

The rally began with a march from Rustaveli Metro station, led by a drum band. Protesters carried flags with Rustavi 2’slogo and caricatures of Bidzina Ivanishvili, holding signs that read: “Rustavi 2 is mine!”, “Rustavi 2 – the people’s TV!”, “Ivanishvili, we’ll come for you next!”, and “Hands off Rustavi 2!”

Speakers included Nika Melia, chairman of the UNM political council, and Rustavi 2’s deputy general director Zaal Udumashvili.

On February 17, as a sign of protest, the channel suspended broadcasting for 40 hours. Broadcasting resumed on February 19 with a rally in front of the Parliament building, organized by the channel. Anchors and hosts such as Zaal Udumashvili, Diana Jojua, Misha Mshvildadze, Maia Asatiani, Giorgi Gabunia, Nanuka Zhorzholiani, Vano Javakhishvili, Paata Iakobashvili, and director Nika Gvaramia addressed the demonstrators, saying the government’s goal was to silence critical media.

Another rally took place on March 2, the day the Supreme Court’s Grand Chamber was to consider the case (without oral hearing). The judges—Nino Gvenetadze, Mzia Todua, Vasil Roinishvili, Ekaterine Gasitashvili, Paata Katamadze, Besarion Alavidze, Maia Vachadze, Zurab Dzlierishvili, and Giorgi Shavliashvili—upheld the previous decisions, transferring Rustavi 2 to Kibar Khalvashi and his company.

After the ruling, supporters gathered near the TV station, and Rustavi 2 switched to emergency broadcasting mode, displaying the message “Rustavi 2 has been taken from us.” Some supporters spent the night in tents outside the station.

Rustavi 2 appealed to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, requesting the suspension of the Georgian court’s ruling. On March 3, the ECHR granted this request. Zaal Udumashvili called the decision a “historic victory” at a March 11 rally titled “Rustavi 2 Is Mine,” attended by NGOs, media organizations, politicians, and citizens. After that, the protests ceased.

However, on July 18, 2019, the ECHR ruled that there had been no violation in the Rustavi 2 case. The same day, Kibar Khalvashi officially registered the company in his name, and his newly appointed director, Paata Salia, entered the station. During their meeting, Nika Gvaramia called him a “collaborationist.”

Afterward, Gvaramia and several colleagues founded a new opposition TV channel, Mtavari Arkhi (Main Channel). Another new opposition TV station, Formula, was also established, employing many journalists and hosts who left Rustavi 2. For several weeks, Rustavi 2 broadcasted without news programs, later becoming a pro-government channel aligned with Georgian Dream.

In May 2021, Rustavi 2 became part of a new company, Media Holding, co-founded with Prime Time. This holding received the right to broadcast and manage the channel’s assets. In 2024, Paata Salia appeared on the Georgian Dream’sparliamentary election list, and in 2025, he resigned his parliamentary mandate to become the Minister of Justice.