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Argument among Journalists Ended With the Fine of 2 000 Lari

January 25, 2008
Zugdidi District Court imposed the fine of 2 000 lari to the editorial staff of monthly magazine "Gia Boklomi" of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region. Irakli Apshilava made such a decision on the basis of Lali Gelenava's suit. In the suit Lali Gelenava demanded compensation of 10 000 lari from Ilia Chachibaia the editor of the magazine "Gia Boklomi" for moral damage.

Ilia Chachibaia, who came to the court hearing without a lawyer, announced that the court was biased. "The court decision had been written in the quarters of the Governor and the District Prosecutor and the judge was going to announce at in the courtroom. Irakli Apshilava is the puppet in the hands of Zaza Gorozia, Roland Axalaia, Grisha and Aleksandre Kobalias".

Ilia Chachibaia is not going to pay imposed fine and 165 lari state excise. He says that the editorial staff of the magazine "Gia Boklomi" can not pay such a large sum, though Chachibaia is still going to lodge an appeal in Kutaisi Appeal Court against the court decision declaring him guilty. Until then the editorial staff of the magazine urges the international organizations for support as the government suppress the right of the free expression in the coutnry. Ilia Chachibaia blames the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Constitutional Security Department and the Administration of the Governor in the persecution of journalists.

Lali Gelenava brought suit to the court regarding the article published in the magazine "Gia Boklomi". The headline was the following: “Crime Was Exposed- Lali Gelenava Robbed the Region. Where does the demoted former spokesperson keep stolen stuff?” Lali Gelenava:" I brought the suit to the court for humiliation of my dignity. The facts of robbery mentioned in the article are true but I do not have any connections with it. Lost video camera, computer and photo camera are mentioned in the article, which were lost at different times. The article has insulted me as a woman and as a mother. As for 2 000 lari I will transfer it to Senaki Orphanage House.

The conflict between Ilia Chachibaia and Lali Gelenava started on December 5 2006 in the quarter of the governor where Dimitri Markoidze Chief Security Guard of Zaza Gorozia locked the spokesperson with the young journalist and insulted them physically. Zugdidi Police Department within the Ministry of Internal Affairs started a preliminary investigation on the illegal restriction of the freedom of Chachibaia and on the prevention him from his professional job.

However, investigation was dropped for certain reasons. Two weeks later, Ilia Chachibaia was kidnapped by unidentified people for several hours and he was threatened and left out of town. The chief security guard of the regional governor beat Ilia Chachibaia in Zaza Gorozia's presence in front of the building of municipality. Criminal case was launched on the fact at the Zugdidi Police Department within the Ministry of Internal Affairs though nobody is punished yet.

Nana Pazhava, Zugdidi


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