New management of Georgian opposition TV channel not to fire journalist for insulting Russian president

Giorgi Gabunia, an employee of the opposition Rustavi 2 TV channel, who insulted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Georgia, will not be dismissed, Paata Salia, the new CEO of the channel, told reporters on Monday.

According to him, the journalist will continue to work at "Rustavi 2" after the two-month restriction.

Regarding the reconsideration of the decision to limit the activities of the channel, Salia said there was no basis for the discussion of this issue: "I think that there is a great consensus on the decision taken on Giorgi Gabunia."

In his Postcription program on July 7 Gabunia used non-ethical expressions addressed to Putin in Russian. The scandalous program has caused serious dissatisfaction in the Georgian society. With the decision of the Rustavi 2 channel management on July 8, the journalist was released from his duties for two months.