Press Is Attacked in Kakheti

“I cannot understand why media is mostly developed in Kakheti,” asked Georgian president a short time ago. This question was followed with various estimations. Experts say that Saakashvili is surprised how regional journalists manage to work despite serious suppression and financial problems.

Representatives of the non-governmental organizations supposed that after president’s statement the media would be more suppressed in Kakheti. Initially local business companies were prohibited to make advertisements in independent newspapers. Then, the authority attacked the news agencies. Under the order of the President’s Representative to the Region, they started to dismantle newspaper booths in Kakheti.

It must be taken into consideration that for the last month, several booths were robbed and damaged in Gurjaani. Although almost everybody witnessed the facts, as well as law enforcers, only salespeople wanted to find out the situation. “Newspaper booth where I work has been broken into lately. When I arrived at the place, windows were broken and newspapers were spread all over the place. I cannot say who and why has broken it. It has not sense to apply to the police because they witnessed the incident but did not do anything,” said Lena Gochitashvili.

Employees from the editorial offices of Kakheti based newspapers remember the facts of suppression very well. “From August 2005 till January 2006 we were implementing the project with the support of International Researches and Exchange Council. The project aimed at spreading the newspapers throughout the region including mountainous and frontier villages too. I exactly remember it was January when distributors, who used to deliver newspapers to shops, telephone booths and other offices, returned most part of them back.  They explained that news agencies refused to buy newspapers because they would have problems. We inquired the situation and found out that the agencies were suppressed. That-tine Deputy Governor of the Kakheti Region, Valeri Vardosanidze, who was in charge of Security Field, invited the owners of the shops and prohibited to buy newspapers. Unless they obeyed his order they would have problems with Financial Police. The situation influenced the periodicity of the editions, because all Kakheti based newspapers were funded either from donor organizations or they received money after all newspapers were sold out.  Local network of distribution also destroyed which was the only in the region,” said Nato Sarkisashvili, manager of the newspaper Imedi.

Removing of the newspaper booths started from Gurjaani and the process was conducted by Vardosanidze, present Deputy Governor of Gurjaani Municipality.

-Mr. Valeri, why are you dismantling the newspaper booths?-They are ugly and that‘s why. Do not you have any other business to do?
-Who ordered you to remove booth?-Go away. Can’t you see they disfigure the view? I do not care if newspapers are not sold,” said Vardosanidze and left the area.

Later on Vano Natroshvili, the head of the Gurjaani Administrative Board’s Infrastructure Service Department stated that removal of the newspaper booths was ordered by Gia Natsvlishvili, President’s State Representative to Kakheti Region. “The regional governor ordered us to empty the town from ugly constructions and we are removing them,” said Natroshvili.

Shavkatsashvili, coordinator of the local office of the JSC “Sakpress” attended the process of removing the booths. “Nobody has warned us that they do not like our booths and make them a bit more beautiful. Today, representatives of the district Municipality arrived with special technique and said they do not like booths and must remove them. They have removed only these booths so far but they are going to do the same in other districts too. The editorial board of the Sakpress has information about the situation. I cannot say anything what will happen in future,” said Shavkatsashvili.

Readers of the newspapers were particularly astonished with the fact. “The press somehow maintains the independence and the authority could not think of any other idea to restrict their freedom,” said Zura Kandelaki.

Nobody makes comments regarding the fact at the Kakheti Administrative Board.   

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti