Kakheti Regional Governor Calls Upon Public Officials to Be More Polite with Journalists
July 6, 2010
Kakheti News Center
Kakheti regional governor Giorgi Ghviniashvili made comments about the damage of the video-camera of the journalist Gela Mtivlishvili by Dedoplistskaro district governor. The regional governor called upon the public officials to be more polite with journalists.
“I am very concerned about the incident between the district governor and the journalist. However, the district governor does not confirm the fact. I personally have constructive relations with the journalists working in Kakheti region and with Gela Mtivlishvili among them. I call upon everybody to be polite with the journalists,” said Ghviniashvili.
We kindly remind you that Dedoplistskaro district governor Nikoloz Shanshiashvili damaged the video-camera of the representative of the Human Rights Center journalist Gela Mtivlishvili when the latter was carrying out his professional activities. The incident happened near the Dedoplistskaro district administrative building on July 3 when the journalist tried to interview the district governor about the complaints of the population.
Lawyer of the Human Rights Center Lia Khuroshvili evaluated the fact as a crime. She said the prosecutor’s office was obliged to start investigation after media-sources reported about the incident.
“If Mtivlishvili appeals to the police, they will start investigation because it is their obligation under the Criminal Procedural Code, but the investigation will never finish like tens of similar cases of assault, threat and attempted murder of journalists. Police and prosecutor’s office will never oppose the regional governor. When the governor does not condemn the activity of the district governor inspired by impunity syndrome, he encourages him,” said Khuroshvili.
Lawyer of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association Tamar Gurchiani said that when a public official does not allow a journalist to work on the problem of public interest, it is illegal interference in his/her activities which is punished under Criminal Code of Georgia.
“The information is published on the website of the Kakheti News Center. This particular case is a crime. A public official is entitled to support a journalist to prepare news. Unfortunately, similar incidents often occur in the regions,” said Gurchiani.
Chairwoman of the Association of Regional Media Ia Mamaladze said that “Officials are so impudent that they do not avoid anything. It is pity that the recently elected district governor starts his activities with similar incidents,” said Mamaladze.
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