Newspaper Batumelebi Submitting Complaint to European Court of Human Rights

The newspaper Batumelebi is submitting complaint to Strasbourg to the European Court of Human Rights. The newspaper is appealing against the decision of imposition of fine of thousand GEL against the publisher Mzia Amaghlobeli and the main editor Eter Turadze because of performing their journalism duty. The corresponding act of administrative violation was appealed by them, but with no result.

Eter Turadze, editor of the newspaper Batumelebi: “The court considered that we did not obey the custom employees as if the Code envisages that all citizens including the journalist must obey the custom employees on the customs territory.”

As the editor of the newspaper states neither Tbilisi City Court nor the Appellate Court abolish the act of administrative violation according to which the journalists were fined.

“The court indicated that we should contact the relevant press service which would help with obtaining the information. We state that this was journalistic investigation and if we informed their service beforehand then they would be able to improve the situation. On the other hand, neither the code nor the orders issued by the customs service state that it is prohibited to work in the checkpoint of Sarpi customs service. We know that the journalists are prohibited to take videos inside the court and the Defense Ministry is also closed. We requested the order or instruction from another side which would state that the customs service is also closed, but they could not present such document,” – noted the editor of the newspaper Batumelebi.

In their complaint the newspaper Batumelebi are also going to request the moral compensation.

Maka Malakmadze, Adjara