EKA KVESITADZE ADDRESSES THE PUBLIC DEFENDER TO ESTABLISH THE FACT OF DISCRIMINATION

Date: 23 Aug 2019

Today, journalist Eka Kvesitadze filed an application with the Public Defender's Anti-Discrimination Mechanism requesting to investigate her case and establish the fact of discrimination. Her legal representation is provided by the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association.

GYLA believes that the staff policy announced and implemented by the broadcasting company Rustavi 2 is discriminatory. Paata Salia, the CEO of the TV Company, has fired Nodar Meladze, head of the newsroom and is planning to dismiss Eka Kvesitadze and several other journalists once they return from the leave. Due to the above policy, many journalists have already left the television in protest.

Although Rustavi 2 has not terminated the employment contract with Eka Kvesitadze, she is unreasonably restricted the right to receive her salary. In her application, Eka Kvesitadze requests to establish the fact of discrimination on the ground of her dissenting views, which is manifested in the non-payment of her remuneration at this stage. Accordingly, Eka Kvesitadze asks the Public Defender in her application to examine the case and issue a recommendation to eliminate the discrimination.