Dedoplistskaro District Governor Seized Video-Camera from the Journalist of the Human Rights Center and Damaged It
July 5, 2010
Natalia Sarkisashvili
Dedoplistskaro district governor Nikoloz Shanshiashvili seized video-camera from the representative of the Human Rights Center and journalist Gela Mtivlishvili and damaged it. Gela Mtivlishvili recorded the part of the road which was graveled only in three places by the funds allocated within the State Rural Program.
“The locals told me only the gravel was brought only by one truck; and 4 000 GEL was spent on it,” said Gela Mtivlishvili.
The journalist called the district governor to check the information and he agreed to comment on the fact at the district administrative building.
“I showed what I had recorded by video-camera after what Shanshiashvili changed his mind to make any comments … Why are you curious how much was spent on it?! Are you from the Chamber of Control?! I am not giving you any comments! Why are you bothering us – the district governor told me,” recalled Gela Mtivlishvili. Finally, the district governor asked the journalist to request public information in written form, grabbed the video-camera from him and ran away.
“I followed the district governor to get my camera back. He was not going to return it but I managed to grab it from him; during the incident the monitor of the camera broke,” said Gela Mtivlishvili.
The incident happened near the Dedoplistskaro district administrative building on July 3. An official of the district administration Davit Jibghashvili witnessed the incident but now he denies the fact.
On the same day, Kakheti News Center got in touch with the Kakheti regional governor and informed him about the incident. “You are telling me an incredible story; I cannot believe that the district governor did it. I will find out the situation and then make comments,” said Giorgi Ghviniashvili. After this conversation the regional governor does not reply to the phone calls of the journalists of the Kakheti News Center.
“I cannot get in touch with the regional governor. The witnesses said the district governor seized only the tripod of the camera,” said the spokesperson of the Kakheti regional administration Khatuna Guliashvili.
Gela Mtivlishvili has not appealed to the police yet because several tens of facts on the assault on journalists, interference in the professional activities and threats have not been investigated in the region since 2004.
Public Defender of Georgia Giorgi Tughushi confirmed in his interview with the Kakheti News Center that facts of assaults on journalists and threats have not been investigated in the region.
“The state is responsible to guarantee freedom of journalists’ activities in the country; the state shall eradicate every attempt to interfere in journalists’ activities. Moreover, public officials shall not breach these rights and if similar incidents happen, effective and impartial investigations shall be carried out,” said Giorgi Tughushi.
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