Reporters without Borders” Condemns Harassment on Journalists While Covering Georgian Parliamentary Elections

“Reporters without Border”, worldwide organization protecting freedom of media, condemns the harassment on journalists who covered the parliamentary elections on May 21 in various regions of Georgia. The organization hopes the authority will react on the harassment properly.

Journalists must not be abused because of polarization of the Georgian society. The society should learn that journalists do not act in the name of government or opposition. They are observers who protect everybody’s interests,” states the appeal spread by the Reporters without Borders.

The organization mentions the fact of harassment on Eliso Chapidze, editor of the newspaper “Resonance”; she was abused by the activists of the United National Movement, the ruling party. The Reporter without Borders reported the incident occurred when Chapidze was taking photos at the polling station in the village of Kvemo Magharo in Kakheti region. “They started chasing me as soon as I started to take photos. One of them twisted my wrists, another seized photo-camera and accreditation card,” said the editor of the newspaper.

Chapidze wrote in her article that was published in the newspaper “Resonance” that she was being interrogated at the local police station for three hours. She was threatened with repression if she published materials about the incident.

Another fact of intimidation occurred in the village of Rukhi in Samegrelo region where Aleko Gabunia, journalist and Nikoloz Pataraia, camera-man for the TV Company Mze were intimated. Operator for Rustavi 2 was also abused. The journalists were recording the quarrel between commission members and Koba Davitashvili, single mandate candidate of the United Opposition.

Strange people knocked the operator of the Rustavi 2 down and broke his camera. Film-crew of the “Mze” was recording the incident when nearly 30 people attacked them. Pataria was injured in his arm; Gabunia was injured in legs and head. The latter stated only small part of their technical equipment survived in the incident.

Journalist Nana Pazhava became a victim of another incident in Samegrelo Region. She was insulted and assaulted by commission members of the polling station when she inquired about complaint the observer from the opposition party had filed. The journalist informed the authority about the incident and stated she could name the abuser.

The police released press-statements about the above-mentioned intimidations and promised to investigate every incident.

Source: Media.ge