Telavi District Councilor’s Son Curses Journalists in the Street

Telavi District Councilor’s Son Curses Journalists in the Street

The Telavi Districts Temporary Governor’s son, Lasha Mamatsashvili, becomes so irritated at seeing journalists, even in the street, that he cannot help calling them obscene names.  His aggression is directed mainly towards those journalists who do not obey his father’s, (Temporary Governor Gocha Mamatsashvili’s) directives and who do not betray the principles of independent journalism. They say in Telavi that Mamatsashvili junior has taken on the responsibility of ‘defending’ his father and has worked out his own methods for this defense.

Roman Kevxhishvili, a journalist for the TV Company ‘Tanamgzavri’, states that he was walking along the street with Khatuna Guliashvili, a correspondent for TV Company ‘Mze’, when Lasha Mamatsashvili, son of Telavi District Temporary Governor Gocha Mamatsashvili, whistled loudly at them and then assaulted them with foul language.

“Khatuna Guliashvili, the correspondent for TV Company ‘Mze’ and I were walking along the street together. Lasha Mamatsashvili first whistled and then yelled uncensored words at us. It is obvious that those words were not directed to others as there was nobody in the street at that time...” states Roman Kevkhishvili.

As Khatuna Guliashvili, correspondent for TV Company ‘Mze’ states, the behavior of the governor’s son is the result of the man’s agitation. She considers that the governor’s son has committed hooliganism and he must be punished for his behavior.

“The children of public officials are generally responsible for their behavior. I am sure that his behavior was the result of his agitation. I think he must be punished for his ideals properly and make him apologize...” states Khatuna Guliashvili.

As it soon became evident, Mamatsashvili is going neither to punish his son nor make him apologize. Roman Kevkhishvili, correspondent for TV Company ‘Tanamgzavri’, says he called the Temporary Governor after the incident and informed him about the fact but he heard nothing but abuse from him.

“As Mamatsashvili does not respond to calls, I sent him a message, after which he called me back to abuse me. Mamatsahvili called me an unscrupulous provocateur, and categorically warned me to keep away from him and never to dial his telephone number any more. Having finished his assault he disconnected the line...” states Roman Kevkhishvili.

The ‘Human Rights Information and Documentation Centre’ was lucky to be replied to after dialing Mamatsashvili, however after having learned why he was ‘troubled’ he stated that had no wish to speak about personal topics and disconnected the line immediately. Why the Telavi Temporary Governor considers a journalists’ questions as personal is unclear to us.

Roman Kevkhishvili, journalist for TV Company ‘Tanamgzavri’, states that insolence from Mamatsashvili and his son were not at all a  surprise to him and nor should physical violence be excluded.

“Before engaging in politics, Mamatsahsvili had a so called ‘thief’s life’ and he used to arrange criminal settlements as well. I think the insolence of a son, brought up by a criminal father is no a surprise at all. It is obvious that neither the governor’s position nor the ‘National Movement’ registration card can change a person’s mentality...” says Roman Kevkhishvili.

Khatuna Guliashvili, correspondent for TV Company ‘Mze’ also does not exclude the possibility of further hooliganism from Mamatsashvili’s son. She says that everybody must be responsible for their behavior under the law. “If a similar case is repeated I will certainly apply to the law...” states Khatuna Guliashvili.

Veriko Kobiashvili, Telavi