Kakheti regional newspaper Progresi accuses the regional administration for intimidating various sbusinessperson. According to Zviad Ruadze, editor of Progresi, Levan Bezhashvili, Kakheti Regional Governor and Giorgi Botkoveli, Deputy Governor blackmails and intimidates businesspersons, those who had placed ads in the newspaper Progresi.
“ The businesspersons told us for the second time that the Kakheti Regional Adminsitration forces them not to place ads in newspaper Progresi.This is the government’s notorious method of intimidation,” states Zviad Ruadze.
The newspaper represetntaives think that Levan Bezhashvili became angry with the newspaper when Progresi publicized the information on the Office of Regioan Governor blocking public information for NGOs. “ There was an article in our newspaper on Kakheti Regional Administration trying to block information for Georgian Young Lawyers Assossication Telavi Office under the order of Levan Bezhashvili,” states newspaper Progresi’s editor.
Zviad Ruadze addresses diplomatic corps and requested them to take all necessary measures to stop governmental terror towards media and businesses.
Tea Topuria, Tbilisi