Georgian Regional Media Association Protests against Use of Force against Azeri Journalists
Georgian Regional Media Association protests against use of force by Georgian law enforcers against the Azeri journalists representing Azerbaijani TV stations "Lider" and "ANS"; the incident took place on February 22.
While filming the protest rally in Marneuli district's village of Damia-Gerarkh the Azeri journalists, Rasil Demirchalov and Aimaz Kalayev were attacked by law-enforcers in plainclothes, the policemen verbally and physically insulted them and took away their tapes with the filmed footage.
According to Regional Media Association, "Application of such methods against journalists is inadmissible, they increase the tensions between the nations". The Association joins Georgian Ombudsman Sozar Subari's statement and demands investigation of this incident.
At the same time the Regional Media Association notes that any pressure on freedom of press and expression is absolutely unacceptable for a democratic state and the authorities should be responding with appropriate actions to all such instances.
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