Journalist Threatened with Rape

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti

Ilya Martkoplishvili, the editor-in-chief of internet newspaper Kiziki accuses Soso Benashvili, the representative of the Kakheti Division of the Constitutional Security Department [“CSD”]within the Ministry of Internal Affairs of intimidation of Tamila Gurashvili, a journalist of his newspaper. Martkoplishvili claims that Soso Benashvili went to Tamila Gurashvili’s home several times and threatened that if she did not stop criticizing the Dedoplistkaro ditrict government her child would face some problems.

Martkoplishvili also claims that Levan Jamalashvili, the head of the Social Department of the Dedoplistkaro District Governor’s Office, and Soso Benashvili said they would rape him (Martkoplishvili).

“Soso Benashvili, an employee of CSD, first came to Tamila Gurashvili’s home  some time ago. Tamila lives with her child. Benashvili threatened her and warned that our newspaper should stop criticizing the Dedoplistkaro district government. He also “advised” Tamila to take care of her child. Several days ago, the leaders of the political party the New Rights met the Kakheti regional journalists in Telavi. When we came back to Dedoplistkaro Soso Benashvili immediately came to Tamila Gurashvili’s place and started questioning why we went to Telavi, what we said and so on.

-So the employee of the CSD demanded that you did not publish materialscritical of the district government?

-He warned  us not to publish critical information about his work and the work of the Dedoplistkaro District Governor.

-Why? Why should an employee of CSD decide what you write on a local government?

-Soso Benashvili is the former head of the Dedoplistkaro District Office of the National Movement [“ruling political party”]. The godfather of his child is Levan Baghashvili, the incumbent Dedoplistkaro District Governor.

-Which materials irritated the district government?

-We always cover both good and bad news that occur in the district. Our newspaper functions more like a blog but it is the only web site where critical materials are published about the Dedoplistkaro government.

A newspaper which is funded by the local municipality is distributed in the district. This newspaper  only promotes the government. It turns out that the authorities were irritated particularly when we covered the conclusion of an NGO about the Dedoplistkaro District Governor harassing the principle of the Dedoplistkaro Public School # 1. It was indicated in the conclusion that the District Governor was harassing the school principal because she won in the competition for the school principals. The thing is that in the competition the current principal defeated the mother of the District Governor.   The entire Dedoplistkaro District Governor’s Office was mobilized in the school during the election of Board of Trustees of the school. Some of them  attended the election as election commission members, some as obersvers and so. We wrote about this as well.

We were also asked not to publish  information about a clan ruling in the district government. We wrote that the family members and relatives of the Chairperson of the Dedoplistkaro District Council were appointed to the positions with high salaries. They do not want this kind of information to be publicized. They do not care if this information is disseminated in the district; they care more about not disseminating this information outside the district. Therefore, they are trying to silence us. Benashvili has told Tamila Gurashvili several times that one day he would rape me.”

Ilya Martkoplishvili claims that Levan Jamalashvili, the head of the Social Department in the Dedoplistkaro District Governor’s Office threatened him with rape. “He used foul language against me. He said if I did not stop, he would rape me,” said Martkoplishvili.

Tamila Gurashvili refused to comment on this. “I can not speak about this issue now. I will contanct you when I decide to speak about the issue,” said Gurashvili.

It is noteworthy that the phone number of Soso Benashvili was listed in the mobile phone of Tamila Gurashvili.

Levan Jamalashvili, the head of the Social Department in the Dedoplistkaro District Governor’s Office and Soso Benashvili, anemployee of CSD, deny the accusations. They say they have not threatened the journalists.

“That guy is lying. I do not even know who he is. I have not threatened anyone. As for my number in the phone of Tamila, probably she called me,” said Benashvili to us.

“I do not speak with Martkoplishvili at all and how could I threaten him,” said Levan Jamalashvili, head of Social Department.

The Kakheti District Prosecutor’s Office might initate an investigation into the allegations of threats against journalists. The Human Rights Centre [“HRIDC”] has demanded the investigation.  HRIDC claims the alleged activities of the officials have the indications of a  crime. Even though the Human Rights Centre does not believe an investigation of the case would be objective,  we still think that the investigation should be initiated anyway and everything should be done to punish the harassers.