Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti
Kakheti based journalists protested against the government when it illegally took control over the TV Company “Imedi” and demanded to give it back to its real owners and resume regular broadcasting. Representatives of the local NGOs also joined forces with them. The demonstrators prepared an appeal to the international organizations where they protested the restriction of the freedom of expression and the restriction of journalists in Georgia.
The demonstrators stated the Georgian media has never been so restricted before as it is now, on the fourth anniversary of the 2004 Rose Revolution.
“According to Ina Gudavadze, the widow of the late businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili, some individuals on their own have tried to represent themselves as the real owners of “Imedi TV” - and they even tried to sell it to the government. Saakashvili’s government is doing its best to get hold of the TV Company. We guess that they will even do it under force. It is unbearable. “Imedi” must be returned to the society and its broadcasting should be resumed,’ said Tamar Makharashvili, correspondent for the Kakheti regional newspaper.
The demonstrators made comments after one-hour-silence. Symbolically, they had fixed the logo of the “TV Imedi” on the mouths to attract greater public interest in the plight of the station.
“Raiding and restriction of the “Imedi TV” was by far the greatest mistake of the government. Several TV Stations work throughout Georgia and now almost all of them are controlled by the government. Consequently, we are unable to learn the truth about the on-going events in the country. So terrible is the situation in the regions but they are not revealed by national media sources; or they prepare materials but are not allowed to show on TV,” said Roman Kevkhishvili, journalist for the Radio “Hereti”.
Journalists of all Kakheti based media sources took part in the demonstration. Representatives of the non-governmental organizations like “Young Lawyers Association,” Human Rights Center and other organizations also took part in the protests.
Demonstrators prepared an appeal to international organizations where they demanded to make Georgian government to give “Imedi” back to society and protect Georgia’s hard fought freedom of expression.
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