Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

Assaults on Journalists Are Not Investigated In Kakheti

May 6, 2010
Natalia Sarkisashvili, Kakheti News Center

There is no official statistics, how many facts of the interference in the professional activities of journalists have not been investigated since 2004. According to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office, they do not investigate any of these cases. In Kakheti, more than ten incidents happened when journalists were attacked; only one of them was investigated. However, the offender in this case was promoted instead punishment.

On April 15, 2005, brother of the single mandate MP from Lagodekhi District Guram Kakalashvili and member of the National Movement Mikheil Kakalashvili insulted and physically assaulted the journalist of the Kakheti regional newspaper “Imedi” Marina Gogoladze. The incident was not investigated.

On June 15, 2005 unidentified people exploded a hand-mine in the house of the journalist of the regional newspaper “Imedi” Gela Mtivlishvili. The investigation was launched under accusation of the attempt of the premeditated murder. According to the information of the Kakheti regional department of the MIA released on April 20, 2010 the investigation is still underway.

On June 22, 2005 unidentified person attacked Gela Mtivlishvili when he was going home from the editorial-office and wounded him by gun. The investigation was launched on the incident and it is still underway.

On November 22, 2005 at 11:35 pm unidentified people exploded the hand-mine in Gela Mtivlishvili’s house again. The criminal investigation was launched but the crime has not been resolved yet. The police did not interrogate the journalist regarding the incident. Deputy head of the Kakheti regional department of the MIA Gocha Tediashvili suggested Mtivlishvili to stop journalistic activities in order to avoid similar incidents in future.

On February 1, 2006 official of the Telavi district administration Nikoloz Paradashvili insulted and physically assaulted the journalist of the Telavi based TV-Company “Tanamgzavri” Roman Kevkhishvili. On the same day, in the building of the Telavi district administration, deputy district governor Gia Papunashvili insulted and physically assaulted journalist Gela Mtivlishvili. On February 7, 2006, criminal investigation was launched under the Article 239 Part II –“a” and “b” of the Criminal Code of Georgia at the Telavi district police department against the journalists Gela Mtivlishvili and Roman Kevkhishvili. According to the Kakheti regional prosecutor’s office, the preliminary investigation was launched based on the appeal of the Telavi district administration which stated that on February 1, 2006 journalists insulted officials of the local government in the building of the Telavi district administration and behaved as hooligans. The investigation is still underway.

On June 15, 2006 the members of the National Movement, employees of the administration of the village Vakiri and Sighnaghi district policemen dispersed the journalists who were going to Sighnaghi to cover the protest demonstration organized by the non-governmental organizations. The attackers insulted and physically assaulted the correspondents of the TV-Companies Imedi, Mze, Public Broadcasting, “Gurjaani”, “Tanamgzavri” and of various newspapers. They broke the equipment of the journalists. Journalists Roman Kevkhishvili, Zviad Ruadze and Gela Jaliashvili were injured. The police detained three members of the National Movement regarding the incident. However, the prosecutor’s office signed plea-bargain with them and soon they were released.

On October 9, 2006, former single mandate MP from Lagodekhi District Davit Kapanadze attacked the director of the Radio “Hereti” Ramaz Samkharadze in the street and physically assaulted him. The investigation lasted for two years. In 2008, Lagodekhi district court found the former MP Davit Kapanadze guilty in the violation of the freedom of expression and imposed suspended sentence on him. In February of 2009, Kapanadze was appointed at the position of the deputy head of the administration at the Chamber of Control.

On December 8, 2007, correspondents were forcibly kicked out of the hall during the session of the Gurjaani municipality board. Although the journalists appealed to the prosecutor’s office, the investigation was not launched.

On May 21, 2008, journalist of the newspaper “Resonance” Eliso Chapidze was beaten in the polling station # 26 in the village of Kvemo Magaro in Sighnaghi district. The investigation was launched but it is still unresolved.

On May 21, 2008, journalist Irakli Gogouadze was twice beaten in the polling station # 46 in the village of Iormughanlo in Sagarejo district.

On the same day, in the polling station of the village of Kabali in Lagodekhi district, chairman of the election commission Adalat Sardarov beat the journalist Gela Mtivlishvili who was accredited as an observer; he was video-recording the violations in the polling station.

On May 21, 2008, in the polling station # 37 in the village of Kvemo Lambalo in Sagarejo district representative of the web-portal “presa.ge” Konstantine Stalinsk was beaten. The investigation was launched on the incident but it is still underway.

Former and current public defenders of Georgia appealed to the Prosecutor’s Office and recommended to start investigation on the incidents but in vain.

News