Today, representatives of the Georgian Public Defender’s office met journalists in Kakheti region. On January 7, 2009 Soso Martashvili, head of Gurjaani police department, cursed journalists who were implementing their professional activities and threatened them with detention.
Ombudsman’s office officially started to investigate the fact of harassment against journalists.
Reportedly, several days ago, Sozar Subari, public defender, made a statement regarding the incident. He assessed the impudent activity of the head of Gurjaani police department as a continuation of governmental policy; Subari considers that Soso Martashvili should immediately resign from his position.
Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti