Web Portal on Human Rights in Georgia

Non-governmental organizations have been widely discussing the restriction of the freedom of expression in Gori; however, there is no result yet. Representatives of the NGOs said that local authority’s activities hinder their organizations and journalists to work impartially in the region.

Local authority has opposed the mass media vehemently in Shida Kartli. On May 26, at 2:00 AM tractors pulled down the fence of the TV Company Trialeti.

Although the government is trying to build a democratic state, the problem of getting public information is still unsettled in the country. The current Georgian Prosecutor General enacted the perfect General Administrative Code where the chapter III deals with independent and transparent public information.

After newspaper booths were dismantled in Kkaheti by local authority, patrol police started to harass press distributors in the region. Law enforcers have already warned distributors not to sell out newspapers from the stands placed in the streets. If they do not obey they will be fined. Besides that if any of them dares to resist the police, they will be detained under the law on disobedience.

On the previous day of may 3, the World Day of the Freedom of Press, famous human rights organization “Freedom House” published its traditional report on the freedom of the press throughout the world, “Freedom of the Press 2007: Global Survey of the Independence of the Media”.

“I cannot understand why media is mostly developed in Kakheti,” asked Georgian president a short time ago. This question was followed with various estimations. Experts say that Saakashvili is surprised how regional journalists manage to work despite serious suppression and financial problems.

MP Beso Jugheli brought suit against Eka Kvesitadze, the journalist. The controversy between the journalist and MP originated from the article in the newspaper “24 Saati”. The article, “Jughelizm”, was published by Kvesitadze in the newspaper. The journalist criticized Jugheli’s statements he made on Radio Utsnobi and TV Imedi regarding the national minorities.