Russian Peacekeepers Beat Mze Journalist And Broke TV Camera

On December 14, Malkhaz Basilaia, a journalist for the news program “Mzera” of Mze television, was beaten by Russian peacekeepers in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone. The television camera was broken as well. Today at an ad hoc briefing, David Bakradze, the Minister on Conflict Resolutions, has demanded to punish the responsible soldiers and the commander of post.

The report describing the incident at Enguri bridge near the Russian posts, was broadcasted by Mzera. The journalists were preparing materials for a news program concerning the January fifth election and the leaflets spread throughout Abkhazia during the pre-election period. According to the TV company the leaflet –“We will return!” was disseminated in the conflict zone including in the area surrounding the post of the Russian peacekeepers in the morning of December 12.
At the ad hoc briefing, David Bakradze recalled the arrest of two Russian peacekeepers, who kidnapped Georgian journalists in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone. “I think this incident will not be as complicated, but we demand to start the investigation process and to punish those responsible,” stated Bakradze.

Source: Media.ge