Journalist of Guria News Alleges District Governor Verbally Insulted Her

Nino Mshvidobadze, Guria

Journalist of Guria News Zhana Megrelishvili said, on February 14, Ozurgeti district governor Konstantine Sharashenidze insulted and cursed her in his working rooms, when journalist tried to get his comment.

“I wanted to check some information with district governor Kote Sharashenidze and went to his office. I asked whether topic of his controversy with the Guria region governor was connected with the incident in musical school, which was left without central heating as a result of robbery and if regional governor had really sent special commission to inspect agricultural projects implemented in the district in 2013. Sharashenidze categorically demanded me not to switch on the Dictaphone and insulted me. He was shouting why I was writing articles about him that made “nasty people” happy; why I was traveling to villages for interviews and why should I feel happy if something will happen with him. He was speaking loudly and did not allow me to switch on the device. I said I had not come to his office to chat and needed his comment. When he saw that I had switched on the Dictaphone, he lost control and cursed me. I was afraid he would physically assault me and immediately left his working room,” journalist said.

It is easy to hear Sharashenidze cursing and insulting journalist in the audio-recording, when the latter asked whether Guria regional governor had demanded him to repeatedly purchase heater, which was stolen from the musical school.

Guria regional governor commented about the fact with the Human Rights Center. “As a regional governor, in accordance to the law, I did not have right to react on the fact – to dismiss district governor from the position; only municipal board can make similar decision. However, I evaluate this fact negatively and believe similar public servants put us in shame. Public official, district governor among them, cannot insult journalist; it is inadmissible,” regional governor Giorgi Chkhaidze said.

Chairwoman of Ozurgeti district office of the Republic Party Marine Sungulia was first among representatives of political parties to publicly react on the fact. “What good did Konstantine Sharashenidze do for the district during his activities as a governor; representatives of society and political parties already speak about it. One thing is clear, his insulting words recorded in the Dictaphone reminded everybody his “deeds” from the very first day he occupied the position.”

“It is a pity that today public servants do not acknowledge legal and ethic norms of their positional status. Is it news for somebody that this particular interim governor is not adequate candidate for the position?!” chairwoman of the Ozurgeti district organization of the Democratic Movement – United Georgia Tamar Nadiradze said.

Guria News spread special statement with regard to the incident. “We will appeal to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to start investigation into this fact. We will also appeal to the municipal board to start administrative process on the fact. We appeal to all branches of the government, local and international human rights organizations, leaders of political parties and the ruling coalition to protect rights of the journalist and every citizen. We demand to guarantee physical inviolability of every journalist because similar public officials can easily abuse journalists and their family members too! We will take this case under particular control, until Konstantine Sharashenidze is punished for the incident in accordance to the Georgian legislation.”

Two days after the incident, interim governor Sharashenidze officially apologized to the newspaper. “Due to high public interest to the audio recording published by the newspaper Guria News I believe it is my obligation to make statement in my deep respect to the society and particularly to the Guria News. I am sincerely sorry for impolite wording, which was published by Guria News short time ago. I am fully aware of the gravity of my action, that cannot be justified by pre-conditions of this audio-recording. First of all, addressee of my words was not journalist or editorial board of the media source but so-called source named by the journalist; then, it was just an extract from very emotional and long conversation, but I do not want to speak about details now. I again would like to express deep respect to media, among them to Guria News and their large audience and apologize to them for non-ethic and adequate behavior of public servant.”