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Vakhtang Maisaia vs Rustavi 2 and Maestro TV

February 10, 2011
Lana Beridze, media.ge

Military Expert Vakhtang Maisaia, Charged with Espionage Sues TV-Companies Rustavi 2 and Maestro TV for Screening Famous Film ‘Enveri’.

Maisaia serves his prison term in Rustavi Jail number 2. His attorney, Natia Korkotadze reported to the News Agency “Pirveli” that Maisaia is accusing  two TV companies for slander. She said the suit will be brought to the court next week.

Last year, officers of the Counter-Intelligence Department of Georgia carried out special operation “Enveri” and arrested members of a Russian spy network in Georgia. Every detainee was a citizen of Georgia. The film “Enveri” was based on the operation and was screened on November 5, 2010 by Rustavi 2 TV. Later, Maestro TV showed some clips of the film.

Maisaia protests the film because of the parallels drawn between him and the recent detainees.

“My connection with the Russian Special Forces was not proved. According to the fabricated scenario of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, I was initially a spy for the USA and then of the Russian Special Forces. However, they could not prove it,” said Maisaia in his letter, which he sent to the Pirveli news agency with the support of his attorney.

Maisaia was judged in January of 2010. He was then charged with espionage: for collecting, saving and transferring secret data and information about state secrets of Georgia. He is also accused of providing the Intelligence Department of the Russian Federation with the secret information about Georgia during the Russian-Georgian armed conflict of 2008,. Maisaia was put in prison for 20 years.

The Director-general of Maestro TV, Bacho Kikabidze, told media.ge that they did not show the film ‘Enveri’. They simply broadcasted the telecast about the film and only several fragments of it were shown.

“I cannot understand why they are complaining about Maestro TV? If they do not like the film, they should sue its authors. We produced only a telecast and showed only several fragments of it,” said Bacho Kikabidze.

The author of “Enveri”, journalist Giorgi Gvishiani told Media.ge that the entire film was based on the investigation materials and that the journalist did not make up anything. “Every story in this film was based on the investigation materials. Rustavi 2 shall not be blamed in this.”

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