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Preparation for the meeting with the Prime-Minister and attack on journalist in Tsnori

September 26, 2016
 
Information Center of Kakheti

Yesterday, preparation works started for the meeting with the Prime-Minister in the central street of Tsnori, which had been under construction for several months. The workers were forced to clean the street from the stones and to fill the pits with asphalt and concrete in a heavy rain. Tamaz Mateshvili, the representative of the Tsnori district governor in the village, came drunk to the Liberty Street after the journalist of the Information Center of Kakheti arrived on the site. He cursed the journalist and slapped in the face and then left the territory by his car. 

Gela Mtivlishvili, the journalist, informed the police about the incident and presented the footage. The journalist requested the police several times to test Tamaz Mateshvili on alchohol but it was done only 2 hours after the incident. The test proved that he was heavily drunk. In the footage it is seen that Tamaz Mitashvili drives the car drunken. Untill now the ICK does not have information whether the police sanctioned Mateshvili under the article 116, part I of the Administrative Code of Georgia, which implies suspension of the right to drive a car for 6 months. 

The police explained to Gela Mtivlishvili that the investigation into the incident commenced based on the article 154, part II of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which punishes the illegal prevention the activities of a journalist through abuse of professional power. The crime is punished by fine or imprisonment up to 2 years, by dismissal from the job or suspension right to work up to 3 years.

Today in the morning Tamaz Mateshvili commented to media and announced that he quitted the job. 
“I would like to apologize for the yesterday’s incident. I, as the public servant, had to be more patient. I realize that free and independent media is the most important achievement of our government; any public servant has to support the media activities. I decided to quit the job. I again apologize to the journalist and society”, - Tamaz Mateshvili declared. 

Gela Mtivlishvili said that the footage, which he gave to the police, proves not only illegal interference in the journalist’s activities, but hooligan behavior of the public servant. The journalist requests to put Tamaz Mateshvili in jail. 

“I do not feel pain in the jaw, I am not surprised with verbal insulting, I got used with similar treatment during the National Movement’s governance. The public servant, who insulted me yesterday, was Tsnori district governor before 2012. Before 2012 parliamentary elections he was exposed in many illegal and rude actions. As soon as the Georgian Dream came in power, he joined them and continued to be the governor. I request quick investigation in the case. He was sacked not because of dishonorable behavior, but based on his personal request. He has to be prosecuted. We will see if they put the case on the shelf, as there do it for almost ten years in the crimes committed against us, like shooting, explosion of a bomb in my house, for attempted murder”, - Gela Mtivlishvili, the editor of the network of information centers, said. 

The Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia notified the Information Center of Kakheti that the Liberty Street in Tsnori, where the incident happened, was under-construction because of the rehabilitation of the water supply system. According to the documents, Ltd Zimo conducts the constructions and the project costs 11 238 124.36 GEL. 

According to the information published on the Municipal Development Foundation’ web page, the construction started in September, 2014 and had to be finished by July 1, 2016. The Information Center of Kakheti will follow up the case. 


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