Journalists in Gori demand Strict Punishment Mechanism for High ranking Officials

Journalists in Gori demand Strict Punishment Mechanism for High ranking Officials

On May 29th, the Public Defender of Georgia did not appear at a meeting with journalists in Gori, due to the complicated situation that occured in the Tskhinvali region. The Ombudsman’s representatives were however able to come to meet with the journalists instead. At the meeting journalists in Gori demanded a strict punishment mechanism be set up for high ranking officials.

The meeting was supposed to be held in the conference hall of the Gori Administration. However, Governor Nukri Papunashvili told the Ombudsman’s representatives that repair work had been started in the conference hall and therefore it was not available for use. The fact is that the Administration started the repair work the day before the meeting.

According to the journalists, because of his own private interests the Governor did not allow the hall to be used by the Ombudsman’s representatives and the local media. When the Governor’s refusal raised discontent amongst the journalists, workmen were instructed to remove the tables and chairs from the hall.

In his report for 2004, Sozar Subari demanded the Presidential Representative in Kartli - Mikheil Kareli and Gori Governor - Nukri Papunashvili, be held responsible for certain acts. Both officials were suspected of blackmail and of appropriating the possessions of local businessmen.

In the report for 2005, the Presidential Representative in Kartli and the Gori Governor were mentioned again. However, the Gurgaani Governor was also mention along with them. Sozar Subari recommended that all of them follow the General Administration Code when giving out public information. 

According to Tamar Okruashvili, the editor of the newly established ‘Kartlis Khma’ (Voice of Kartli), both officials from the region did not follow the recommendations of the Ombudsman.

“The press service at the administration has sent press releases twice this week. That never occurred before. However, access to public documents or an interview with the Governor is not allowed. Representatives of the local government are only willingly to agree to the interviews with MP Badri Nanetashvili’s ‘Trialeti’ broadcasting company and newspaper”, stated the editor of the ‘Kartlis Khma’ newspaper.

The editor of the ‘Khalkhis Gazeti’ (The Peoples’ Paper) newspaper – Rezo Okruashvlili remembers: “On May 9th, when our journalist asked the Presidential Representative for an interview, he replied – I gave an interview to the journalist with the ‘Trialeti’ broadcasting company and you can rewrite that. I want to tell you that we could not manage to obtain his resume for two years. The Head of the Administration Chancellery, Aleksi Jalabadze, does not register our applications at all”.

The journalists in Gori demand a strict punishment mechanism be set up for high ranking officials. “If we are not assisted from the capital, they will keep on doing the same, regardless of our critical articles”, says Tamar Okruashvili.

Saba Tsitsikashvili from Gori