Local Media and NGOs Protest Against the Possible Arrest of Telavi Regional TV Station Director

 Local Media and NGOs Protest Against the Possible Arrest of Telavi Regional TV Station Director

In several minutes, Telavi regional TV station director will be put on trial and possibly granted pre-trial detention in Telavi regional Court. It is unknown, who has accused Enri Kobakhidze of petty hooliganism during Luka Ramazashvili’s trial. The witness of the accusation is also unknown. Representatives of the media and NGOs are gathered in the court. In the evening, they intend to protest in front of the district and Telavi region administrations. Furthermore, they plan to hold a hunger strike tomorrow. They demand an end to the terrorizing of journalists; in particular, they ask Gocha Mamatsashvili to stop the pressure on Telavi TV station, which he hopes will achieve the transfer of the TV station into the hands of the local authority.

It should be mentioned that nowadays “Tanamgzavri” constantly experiences pressure from the local government.  According to journalists at “Tanamgzavri”, the acting governor, Gocha Mamatsashvili, wants to occupy it.

Another violation that should be mentioned was when the journalist Roman Kevkhishvili was beaten by Nikoloz Paradashvili, the head of the Telavi administration organizational department.