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Local Governor Cracks Down on Media

November 21, 2005

Local Governor Cracks Down on Media

During his TV appearance on November 16th 2005, Kakheti’s Governor Akaki Sikharulidze accused the media of corruption and threatened them with actions by the special services. Later, the local governor voiced accusations towards one concrete journalist - Gela Mtivlishvili, the editor-in-chief of the regional newspaper “Imedi”. In connection to this, it deserves to be mentioned that several attacks sustained by Mtivlishvili are not yet investigated. Direct threats and groundless accusations from the side of the region’s top officials add up the pressure.   

The regional weekly newspaper “Imedi” is one of the most popular Kakhetian newspapers. It is not only read in Kakheti, but also in Tbilisi and the Mtskheta-Mtianeti district. “Imedi’s” journalists have frequently become the victims of physical and psychological abuse. However, according to the editor in chief, pressure has increased after the ‘Rose Revolution’.

The newspaper’s employees have sustained a series of attacks from the beginning of this year. On the 7th of January an unknown group has raided the paper’s regional office. After this event, the police department of the Gurjaani region unofficially accused Gela Mtivlishvili, “Imedi’s” editor in chief, of having ordered the raid himself.

On the 15th of April 2005, another correspondent of “Imedi”, Marina Gogoladze, was physically and verbally abused by the brother of MP Guram Kakalashvili in the latter’s office. Sever members of the National Movement party observed the attack, however they did not report the abuse in return for political benefits.

On the 22nd of June, “Imedi’s” editor in chief was attacked by unknown armed persons, who threatened him with death in case he would not quit his activities. The journalist received a serious head trauma and was treated in hospital.

Another attack took place on the 15th of July. Unknown persons threw a grenade at Mtivlishvili’s house. The windows on the first floor were shattered because of the explosion. The kitchen, yard and roof were also damaged. Mtivlishvili’s young nephews, who were at home during the attack, received a shock because of the explosion. 

The head of the Union for Combating Economic Crime, Corruption and Contraband Boris Mamisashvili, sued “Imedi” on the 1st of September after critical materials were published about him in the paper. Mamisashvili demanded moral compensation of 50.000 GEL.

“Mamisashvili had to pay 1200 GEL of Court tax, but he, with the help of the local governor, drew up a petition which freed him from this. I declare that the local governor is personally interested in the bankruptcy of the paper. It was obvious also in his television speech made yesterday. I also do not exclude the fact, that all the attacks on our office and journalists were organized by him,” - says Gela Mtivlishvili.

As said above, during his TV appearance on the 16th of November 2005, Gurjaani’s governor Akaki Sikharulidze, accused the media as a whole of corruption and in spreading information for money. In addition, he threatened them with actions by the special services. He called Mtivlishvili a blackmailer, swindler, provocateur and blind.

No investigation has started on the criminal acts committed against journalist Gela Mtivlishvili. Nothing has been done to find out who the criminals are. Journalists are in real danger; in a country where the Prime Minister is killed, the life of an average journalist means little.

The Human Rights Information and Documentation Centre (HRIDC) is concerned about the on-going threats and attacks against journalists from the side of governmental representatives. The HRIDC strongly condemns the threats against representatives of independent media and demands that the mentioned governor takes responsibility for his acts.

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