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Publication of Alia Newspaper Suspended on Account of Emergency Rule, Several News Agencies Also Suspend Activity

November 8, 2007

On the morning of November 8th, most of the popular Georgian newspapers were published. Alia was not among them. Other news agencies in the country were not working, either. Representatives of the Alia editorial board stated that early in the morning of November 8th, with emergency rule having been declared in the country, the decision was made to suspend production of the next issue as no official announcement had been made as to what restrictions would be placed on print media.

The Alia staff stated that they expected the Georgian government to give a written explanation to editorial boards outlining the restrictions within the emergency rule.

At a special briefing in the State Chancellery early in the morning of November 8th, Gigi Ugulava, the Mayor of Tbilisi, stated that all media sources will receive special guidelines about their future activities during emergency rule.

Ugulava stated that media sources are obliged to act according to the regulations outlined. He stated that he thinks emergency rule will soon end and that when the overall situation calms, the TV station Imedi will renew broadcasting.

Today’s newspapers have all published the photos of yesterday’s events, including riot police dispersing demonstrators, comments from politicians and analytical articles.

As a result of mass disorder, President Mikheil Saakashvili passed a decree declaring Emergency Rule throughout Georgia late in the evening of November 7th. Consequently, all independent TV stations ceased broadcasting and the dissemination of information is severely restricted. Only the Georgian Public Broadcaster is currently permitted to report on the current situation.

At the moment, no independent TV or radio stations, working in Tbilisi or other districts in Georgia, are reporting news. Besides the publicized closure of TV stations Imedi and Kavkasia, Batumi’s TV 25 station has also been closed.

Source: Media.ge

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