Member of Municipality Board Threatened Anchor on Live TV

Marina Gogoladze

In the evening of October 13, Eva Lomtadze, member of Lagodekhi Municipality Board and chairwoman of the commission for social issues, threatened Marina Gogoladze, journalist and TV presenter of weekly program “Studia Dialogi” of the TV Company Lagodekhi. Evidently, Lomtadze was irritated by the fact that the TV Company did not block some of the questions presented by the TV audience.  The program also showed a piece where those livng in Lagodekhi harshly criticized the local MP.”

Guram Kakalashvili, MP from Lagodekhi district, was a guest of the “Studia Dialogi.” He was answering the questions phone in from TV Viewers during the one hour program. The issues discussed were about the problems of the district, and the activities of the MP. People reminded Guram Kakalashvili of the promises he had made during his pre-election campaign. However, as many had expected, those promises were never kept.

At the end of the program Eva Lomtadze called the Studia Dialogi who could not help her anxiety. She repeated several times that she was member of the Municipality Board and threatened the TV presenter. “I am ashamed of these stupid questions. You want to demonstrate that nothing good has been done in Lagodekhi district whatsoever. Tomorrow we will talk about other issues at the municipality board,” said Lomtadze over the phone.

In her conversation with the Human Rights Center Lomtadze she denied the fact of having threatened the journalist. She claimed that Marina Gogoladze is an employee of the service center for public relations within Lagodekhi Municipality Board. “I do not want anything bad to happen,’ said Lomtadze though she did not concretize what she actually meant in her phrase.

Marina Gogoladze, TV anchor considers that the member of the municipality board wanted to stifle her. “Supposedly, she intended to make me reduce the number of TV viewers that was calling our live TV program and to create a more pleasant environment for the guest and to avoid critical questions,” said Gogoladze.

The non-governmental organization Human Rights Center reacted immediately to this instance and called upon the local authority to be more patient and reminded them with the demands of Georgian legislation.

“Members of the municipality board, particularly Eva Lomtadze who works for the local non-governmental organization, do not have right to give notifications to a journalist against her/his professional will and dictate how to organize or moderate the program. It is direct interference in the activities of a journalist and information source that is prohibited under Georgian law. In addition, public officials should remember that they are empowered with responsibility of having patience,” said lawyers of the Human Rights Center.

TV Company Lagodekhi has been broadcasting in Kakheti Region since April of 2008. In addition to this TV Company, there are three additional independent TV stations in the region: TV Company “Tvali” in Sagarejo district; TV Company “Gurjaani” in Gurjaani district and “Tanamgzavri” in Telavi. Both Gurjaani TV and Tanamgzavri have weekly analytical programs. However “Studia Dialogi” is noted as being outstanding for its impartiality, public outreach and independence though all local TV Companies are funded from district budgets that are reimbursed for providing advertising services. “Lagodekhi TV” prepares “Studia Dialogi” with own financial resources and the project is not funded by any donor organization.

Reportedly, after the program certain people tried to oppress the board of the TV Company and wanted to persuade them to cancel on-live transmissions of the “Studia Dialogi”. And/or to just have the program totally cancelled.  Lali Khubulava, director of the TV Company, reported to the Human Rights Center that Studia Dialogi will continue its activities in the same regime. On October 20, Monday, Giorgi Ghviniashvili, Kakheti regional governor, will answer the questions of the local viewing audience. The Human Rights Center will observe how the situation will further develop and keep its readership informed.