GeoStar Participant to Sue Rustavi 2

In its March 4-5 edition Georgian newspaper Alia published an interview with the GeoStar participant Luka Melashvili. Reporting to the Alia Melashvili discussed his complaints against Rustavi 2.

On September 29, upon the completion of the GeoStar selection round Rustavi 2 aired a collection of funny videos including an extract musical performance by Luka Melashvili followed by the anchor's voice: "granted a license to sing in a dense thick forest. "Due to evident unobjective reasons I found myself among sarcastic, or as Marina Beridze (jury member) says, funny videos. I couldn't find an explanation to it; I was shocked; How could I be included in funny videos after such evaluations? It is truly humiliating," said Luka Melashvili granting an interview to the Alia. According to him he hadn't had a negative evaluation by the jury, on the contrary he was recommended to develop in the field of classical vocal. Moreover in the contest 2008 he was selected to participate in the second stage.

"I was then encouraged, and now I was disgraced. This is the first time I have felt ashamed of going out into the street, avoiding public places. I was going to enter musical high school but now it seems I am going to be like "a white crow." I am going to be pointed at, named as a hero of GeoStar funny videos. Therefore I gave up, don't feel like doing anything now," said GeoStar participant.

Luka Melashvili first appealed to Rustavi 2 with a request to re-broadcast his performance. The audience would be able to witness whether his performance deserved mockery. The contest participant had consultations with lawyers, afterwards he decided to sue Rustavi 2 and demand an apology by the TV company. According to the contest participant he decided to solve the issue in a peaceful way, thus he hasn't filed a suit to the court yet. Neither Rustavi 2 has shown concession. Few months ago TV Director General promised the singer to post a full version of his musical performance on different web pages. But the promise hasn't been fulfilled.

Luka Melashvili is now requesting live air to convince the audience that he had been groundlessly humiliated. In case Rustavi 2 ignores his request he is going to sue.

In regard to the aforementioned case the Alia journalist Nana Archvadze tried to obtain comments by another party but in vain. According to the journalist the Rustavi 2 lawyer Tamta Muradashvili hung up.