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Batumi Residents Believe Georgian Government Seized Celebration of May 6 from Them

May 11, 2011

Maka Malakmadze, Adjara

Media organizations were selected to get accreditation at the Police Parade in Batumi. Free media outlets and ordinary citizens could not attend the parade.

The Human Rights Center tried to find out why independent TV-Companies TV-25 and Maestro were not allowed to highlight the parade with the head of Information and Public Relation Department of the MIA Zurab Gvenetadze but he refused to talk with us and cut off line.

On May 6, three events were celebrated in Adjara. Police officers did not allow correspondents of the TV-Companies 25th Channel and Maestro across the cordon.

Tariel Tsetskhladze from Maestro-TV in Adjara: “I arrived here at 10:00 am to cover the dress-rehearsal. They said we needed corresponding permission from the MIA. Administration of our TV-Company and I tried to call the Ministry several times but they said we needed no permits and could cover the parade without any obstacles.”

Maia Merkviladze, head of news room of the 25th Channel: “I called Zurab Gvenetadze on the previous day and requested accreditation from him. During my first call he said he would call me back and tell the answer. I called him several times next day and he told me the same. In parallel to it, I was calling the press-center of the Adjara government where they politely explained to me that they knew nothing about procedures.”

Maestro’s correspondent said he did not face any problems when covering other events on May 6. The situation was different in case of TV-25. “There were some other events besides parade in Batumi and they were coordinated by the Batumi City Hall. However, we managed to enter the Batumi Dolphinarium with the support of Natia Bandzeladze, head of president’s press-center. On May 6, the press-centers were also in an obscure situation because a strange person was implementing their functions on that day.”

Police officers did not allow citizens to attend the parade. Batumi residents believe the government of Georgia seized the day from them because they could not attend the celebrations.

„I came here to attend the parade with my child but they did not allow us into the area. Why do they organize similar events – for the president and Vano Merabishvili (minister of interior) only?” asked Nukri Zoidze.

“I could not enter there. If it was not for people, they should have held it somewhere else,” a citizen complained.

The parade started at 12:00 pm in the new Boulevard of Batumi and lasted only 30 minutes. Almost every department of the MIA participated in the parade dedicated to the Police Day. The event was organized by the MIA. 4 000 officers of the MIA marched through the new boulevard; naval and light artillery also participated in the parade.

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