US Civil Society Groups Criticize Georgian Government

USA based non-governmental organizations, the boards of journalism associations and media outlets condemn the riot police attack on the Georgian TV station Imedi. The attack in question forced journalists from the Imedi building under threat of physical assault, destroyed broadcasting equipment and suppressed employees of the TV station. These NGOs call the actions of Georgian law enforcement vandalism and call upon both the Georgian and American governments and international organizations to make all necessary efforts to get Imedi TV back on air.

“We were watching the events of November 7th in Georgia,” said Max Hollon, a director of the American Association for Civil Freedom. “Western media sources covered the protest demonstrations in Tbilisi critically enough. Journalists drew a parallel with the revolution that took place in [Georgia] in 2003 that resulted in the election of Mikheil Saakashvili, who was a close friend of the American government, as President of Georgia. Governments in many European countries also often decide to disperse demonstrators, but usually without the use of force. The situation in Georgia was horrible. Authorities used tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons and many other means to disperse peaceful demonstrators. Some people were even severely beaten. Such a large-scale violation of human rights usually only occurs in Pakistan or Afghanistan. It should not have happened. I got the impression that Georgia had become a non-democratic, police state and that President Saakashvili claims one thing but does another.”

Hollon also added that American civil society was particularly concerned by the fact that police broke into a private TV station and harassed its journalists and staff.

“The USA funds plenty of programs to establish democratic principles and development in the countries of the Caucasian Region. Georgia is among them,” Mr. Hollon stated. “The country, whose government underlines that they are building democracy and want to become members of NATO, should not commit acts of vandalism. Mr. Saakashvili’s government ignored all the statements he has made in front of international society about the right to freedom of expression in Georgia. The right to free expression is principal for both the USA and the Europe. Despite Imedi’s critical statements about the government, authorities had no right to raid and shut the station down. We should point out that the government boycotted the company and in doing so breached the responsibility they have to voters. They essentially prevented journalists from exchanging unbiased and balanced information.”

US Journalism Association, which is staffed by thousands of journalists in the country, also criticized the closure of the TV-Radio company. Representatives of the association argue that authorities should not have dared to raid and shut down Imedi.

“As far as I know, Imedi TV and Radio Imedi, as well as several other media outlets, were closed before the State of Emergency was declared in the country,” said David Charles, a representative of the US Association for Journalists. “Thus, freedom of speech was blatantly violated. I cannot give an explanation as to why the Imedi premises were broken into because Georgia, a close friend of the USA, had not had similar actions happen at all. It was the action of a dictator and it astonished us. I have reports from international organizations that the rights of journalists were not protected much before the Imedi incident, either. We know that several media sources were closed down for unclear reasons, etc. The American government might not consider the current situation in Georgia too urgent and gives suggestions to your authorities as to how to eradicate the problems they have. We, however, categorically demand the protection of journalists’ rights and the immediate return of all media sources to the airwaves so that Georgia does not return to a Soviet regime.”

Mr. Charles also added that unless the activities of the Imedi TV-Radio company resumes its broadcasts in the near future, several respected representatives of American civil society groups will come to Georgia to assess the situation of the Georgian media. Meanwhile, they will continue to observe Georgian current events.

The Journalists’ Association, in support of its Georgian colleagues, intends to petition US President George Bush, the UN, the European Union, the Council of Europe and other international organizations.

Before and after the State of Emergency was declared in Georgia, the respected American newspaper, The Washington Post, criticized the restrictions on independent media sources in Georgia. “President Saakashvili should realize that he faces a clear choice now: either he is developing democracy in the country as a partner of the USA or Georgia will be isolated from Western countries,” the paper stated in an article. “US officials encourage Saakashvili to take some measures and unless he reacts appropriately to the current situation in his country, the Bush administration should stop all kind of support to Georgia and cancel the scheduled visit of the Georgian President to the White House.”

The Post’s political columnist is even more critical, stating, “…Georgian President Saakashvili managed to damage US policy on ‘spreading the democracy’ within a week more than Pakistani President Pervez Musharaf could manage in a larger period of time. At least, unlike Georgia, nobody expected Pakistan to be too democratic.”

At the end of the column, the author recalled a statement George Bush made during his visit to Tbilisi two years ago. “…The country,” Bush said of Georgia, “where democracy is being built, where free speech is flourishing and the opposition is well-accepted and respected.” The columnist wrote that President Bush’s words about Georgia now look not only naive but idiotic.

Gela Mtivlishvili, USA