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Telavi TV Director Was Attacked and Wounded

November 15, 2010
Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti

Last night, the director of the TV-Company “Tanamgzavri” Enry Kobakhidze was wounded. The incident occurred in the village of Pshaveli in Telavi district where he was at his relative’s wedding. Enry Kobakhidze reported that officer of the Special Unit Gela Chvritidze attacked him. Kobakhidze connects the incident with his professional activities. Several days before, Chvritidze requested joint management of the TV-Company but Kobakhidze refused.

Enry Kobakhidze: “We are working on journalistic investigation on the state program of rural development which is implemented with the support of the Eurasian Partnership Foundation. After the TV-Company started to release the journalistic investigations, the local officials of the MIA started to oppress us. Short time ago, Gela Chvritidze met me and introduced himself as an officer of the MIA. He offered me to run the TV-Company together but I declined his offer. Afterwards, he tried to oppress me with various methods. He even tried to threaten me. Several times he provoked me and but I ignored him. Yesterday, at about 9:00 pm, when I was in the wedding of my relative, he attacked me and wounded by knife.”

He said one more person was wounded among the guests of the wedding party but Kobakhidze does not know his name.

The Kakheti News Center reported about wounding of the director of the Telavi TV-Company this morning. The Telavi district police department launched the criminal prosecution based on the information spread by the media sources.

A high-ranking official of the Telavi police station told us the police work on the version of self-injury. The Kakheti regional department of the MIA does not comment on the fact. Kakheti regional prosecutor Tamaz Tsabutashvili does not reply to phone calls either.

Kakheti Regional Governor Giorgi Ghviniashvili said Kobakhidze has not appealed to the police and has not made any testimony yet. “It is very bad that similar incident occurred,” said Ghviniashvili.

The former head of the news room of the independent TV-Company “Tanamgzavri” Nato Megutnishvili confirmed that Enry Kobakhidze was oppressed by various people before the incident.

“In 2006, when Gocha Mamatsashvili occupied the position of the chairman of Telavi municipal board, the law enforcement bodies tried to arrest Kobakhidze several times. It will be very unfair if the situation continues like that. Enry Kobakhidze is not the person who could injure himself as several police officers allege. When we worked together we often spoke about the oppression on him and his business,” said Nato Megutnishvili.

Enry Kobakhidze petitioned to the public defender of Georgia Giorgi Tughushi for help and explained the situation to the ombudsman’s representatives.

The Association of Regional Broadcasting Companies of Georgia spread special appeal regarding the attack on the director of the Telavi TV-Company. The association appeals to the MIA and the Prosecutor’s Office to immediately and impartially investigate the incident. Besides that, the Association requests partner media and non-governmental organizations, Georgian public defender, international and local foundations and diplomatic corps to monitor the ongoing investigation process.

It is noteworthy, that the Telavi TV-Company “Tanamgzavri” is the only local TV-station in Kakheti region which is not funded by the state budget. The company often releases the telecasts where the activities of the government are criticized.

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