Web Portal on Human Rights in Georgia

Georgia occupied the 126th place in the new rating of the freedom of press made by the Freedom House. The following story demonstrates why we were so low in the rating and why we occupied the place next to Nepal in the freedom of press.

On May 7, the debates in the program “Barrier” of the TV-Company “Kavkasia” about the book “Secret Idiotism” (insulting name of the Last Supper) turned into the quarrel. Journalist Aleko Elisashvili reported that human rights defender Beka Mindiashvili and cinema-scientist Teo Khatiashvili left the studio in protest; the representatives of the Union of Orthodox Parents and Public Orthodox Movement met them in the yard who initially insulted and then physically assaulted them. Other participants of the program also went out in the yard at the noise and interfered in the quarrel.

There is no official statistics, how many facts of the interference in the professional activities of journalists have not been investigated since 2004. According to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office, they do not investigate any of these cases. In Kakheti, more than ten incidents happened when journalists were attacked; only one of them was investigated. However, the offender in this case was promoted instead punishment.

On May 3rd, the international day of freedom of expression, the members of the South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders in Georgia – Human Rights Center, Article 42, Center for the Protection of Constitutional Rights and Multinational Georgia - express their deep concern over the fact that journalists represent one those groups of human rights defenders in Georgia, who most often face pressure and intimidation from the authorities. See in PDF