Shorena Ghlonti, Guria
On October 28, Chokhatauri office of the newspaper Guria News was raided. The members of the editorial board of the newspaper report that they found the plastic window-frames broken with stones when they arrived at the office. “The police officers arrived at the place only half an hour later,” said the founder of the newspaper Ia Mamaladze.
The representatives of the opposition parties, non-governmental organizations and the government evaluated the incident as vandal act. The Guria News spread urgent appeal several hours after the incident.
“Although the building is protected by security guard, and the police station is not far away, the criminal did not fear anything and nothing prevented him from committing the crime. This vandal act is logical continuation of the oppression which is very common against journalists from Guria region public officials. Apparently, critical publications, journalistic investigations, which expose corruption, misappropriation of land, turmoil in purchases and competitions, cause harsh reaction of the local officials. We declare that inviolability and lives of our colleagues are not protected in similar environment! Mass blockade of the public information leads the newspaper and journalists in the deadlock; the payment for the release of public information increases permanently – preparation of one journalistic investigation costs so expensive that many media organizations will not afford to work on it regardless their prefect management. The payment for the court proceedings is also too high. In addition to that, public officials treat population and their voters very cynically when they refuse journalists to comment on the topics which are urgently important for the population. No crimes have been investigated yet: physical assault of the journalist in the police station; intimidation from the high-ranking officials of the Chokhatauri district that was shown to entire Georgian population; assault of journalists during elections… We receive standard replies from the prosecutor’s office permanently. “Local representatives of the institution cannot see any criminal signs in the activities of the public officials.”
The lives of journalists, who try to prepare grounded articles in extremely hard conditions, are in danger. The lives of their children and family members are also in danger because public officials in Guria region place themselves above the law because of their extremely uncontrolled impunity and power. So, we impose entire responsibility of these vandal acts and possible threats on the government and law enforcement officers. We appeal to everybody - who values freedom of expression - support us because we do not request much– we request elementary safety and possibility to implement our professional activities! We demand immediate investigation of the fact and punishment of the offender in accordance to the law! We request access to the public information! We request the public officials to act in accordance to the law and account to the population.”
Chairman of the Ozurgeti district office of the political union National Forum Shota Gogiberidze evaluated the incident as vandal fact. “The fact itself is an action against free media. I have well-grounded doubt that law enforcement bodies will not respond to the incident as they usually do; so it will be one more confirmation that the totalitarian regime of our country is turning into a dictatorship now. There is no fair judiciary system in the country and there is no perspective for impartial investigation. That is, there is no chance for the investigation of this vandal fact and punishment of the offenders. The purpose of these crimes is to intimidate independent journalists in order to disable them to carry out their professional activities.”
Chairman of the Ozurgeti district office of the political party “Free Democrats” and member of the district municipal board Temur Salukvadze assessed the fact as vandalism. “The purpose of these facts is to threaten people but more precisely independent journalists. I call upon the law enforcement bodies to investigate this fact. Most part of the society will evaluate of this fact as an attempt to subdue free expression. The government should also be interested in the impartial investigation if they do not aim to threaten journalist and do not support free opinion and expression then it should be proved by investigation and real action.”
Deputy Chairman of the Ozrugeti municipal board Avtandil Mekvabishvili thinks that in any case similar activity is vandalism and hooliganism. If a person commits similar crime consciously, it is natural that he has psychic problems. I am sure they will investigate the incident and find out who committed this crime. Of course, it is very bad fact and I think similar incidents should not happen.”
Representative of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association in Ozurgeti district Tamaz Trapaidze thinks that the incident was action against freedom of expression.
Non-governmental organization “Media and Society” spread appeal on October 30. “Non-governmental organization “Media and Society” condemns violence against the newspaper Guria News and calls upon both governmental and law enforcement institutions to urgently investigate the incident committed against the editorial board of the newspaper and to punish the offenders in accordance to the law. There is no power which could compel professional journalists to quit their activities. Investigation of this fact, as well as of other similar incidents, will demonstrate the real approach of the government towards the free media. So, we hope the incident will be investigate at least this time and criminals will be punished in order to prevent similar incidents in future,” part of journalists working in Poti and representatives of the society joined the statement.
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