On 21 August, the Georgian broadcaster Rustavi 2 did not broadcast their newscast at noon after their staff refused to host the newscast. The reason for the workers boycott lied in the fact that the channel Director General Paata Salia unexpectedly dismissed the Head of Information Service Nodar Meladze, producer Giorgi Laperashvili and TV anchors Eka Kvesitadze, Giorgi Gabunia and Nanuka Zhorzholiani a day earlier. The journalists said that their freedom of speech is restricted at the channel under its new administration and this is why they refused to work.

Also on 20 August, the hosts of the Rustavi 2 news show, Kurieri, Diana Jojua and Mikhail Sesiashvili walked off the live broadcasting stage to protest what they called a looming government takeover of their television network. “For 13 years I’ve been greeting you from this studio and today I’m more nervous than I was when I said “This is Kurieri at 9” for the first time.  Now, I have to say goodbye,” said Jojua before leaving.

Sesiashvili pointed out that until 20 August, the company's bosses had promised not to fire anyone except Nika Gvaramia and Giorgi Gabuniya. “After the journalists were dismissed, it became clear to us that no agreements would be respected; it would be a TV company controlled by the ruling party. I don't see myself in such a company, therefore, I decided to quit,” Sesiashvili told Caucasian Knot.

Meanwhile, the former Director General of Rustavi 2 TV, Nika Gvaramia, announced the forming of a new broadcaster named “The Main Channel”. Under the slogan “Obtain Freedom with Us”, Gvaramia offered the former Rustavi 2 employees contracts to sign for his company. He also published a public registry document which shows how the ownership of the TV company is shared: 51% of the channel is owned by Nika Gvaramia and 49% by Kakhaber Anjaparidze. Gvaramia serves as the Director-General of the channel; Irakli Nizharadze is the Financial Director, while the former lawyers of Rustavi 2, Dimitri Sadzaglishvili and Tamta Muradashvili, are mentioned as Directors in the document.

At the same time, the Georgian Investigation Service launched a criminal case against Georgian businesswoman Laura Ghachava, saying that Ghachava is accused of using counterfeit assets and costing the state budget 2,160.955 GEL. The opening of Gvaramia’s new channel was planned in one of the commercial buildings owned by Mrs. Ghachava. Both Ghachava and Gvaramia refused to comment on their ties.