In Replay to Journalist’s Protest

Ramaz Samkharadze, director of the radio Hereti protests the article published on the Human Rights Centre’s web portal. He said that the article spread incorrect information about his being assaulted.

Ramaz Samkharadze told me himself that the court bailed former MP for 10 000 lari and MP’s friend for 5 000 lari for having assaulted Samkharadze. He called me and asked to make some publications regarding his incident and to support him as his colleague.

On March 28 my article with the title “Former MP Blames the Journalists for Partiality” was published on the Human Rights Centre’s web portal. Samkharadze’s reaction on the article was sharp. “If I had not known you closely, I would have thought that Kapanadze had ordered you to write that letter,” he told me over the phone. Samkharadze said that it was disinformation when I mentioned Kapanadze’s comments regarding the situation in my article. Former MP said that he did not fight against independent media, just the opposite he supported them. The former MP recalled the fact when Tax Inspection raided the Radio Hereti during his membership of the Parliament and he asked them to stop the raid.

I offered Samkharadze to tell me everything what he wanted and I was ready to write one more article about these and some other accusations against Kapanadze, which I had not mentioned in my first article on purpose. Samkharadze refused my offer and said that he would petition to the board of the Human Rights Centre. He in fact sent a letter to Ucha Nanuashvili, the Executive Director of the Centre as well as to the editor of the Media. ge where he complained about my article. His letter stated that he had not made similar comments in his interview with the Human Rights Centre.”

After his protest was officially published, I asked Samkharadze to explain me what he was protesting. Initially he told me he was busy and could not answer me, and then he threatened me to appeal to the Media Council against me. “Do not teach me journalism. I will also petition to the Media Council about the incident. Let Kapanadze recall everything he wants. If you obey Kapanadze’s orders I will make public statements about that and I will spread that information,” said Samkharadze and cut the line.

It should also be mentioned that when writing the article “Former MP Blames Journalists for Partiality,” Samkharadze’s comments, which he had made several days during our conversation, as well as the information spread by Radio Hereti, Public Defender’s Press Service Office and News Agency “InterPressNews”.  I think he got anxious because my article revealed the positions of both sides-his and his opponent’s, unlike other media sources. I should also say that Samkharadze got angry with the TV Company Imedi that broadcast balanced information about the incident.

We very well know that a person who was not found guilty by the court cannot be mentioned as a criminal in the article and the former MP enjoys all rights that all of us do, even if he had assaulted journalist.

To sum up, I am not going to have any kind of disagreement with Samkharadze that he has already tried once and thus made the authority happy with the fact.

Gela Mtivliashvili, Kakheti