Assaulted Journalists Refuse to Fulfill Their Professional Duties

Assaulted Journalists Refuse to Fulfill Their Professional Duties

On Wednesday July 28th, journalists and representatives of NGOs who were assaulted will refuse to fulfill their professional duties. They are protesting against the investigation of incident, which took place in the village of Anaga, in the Signaghi district on the 15th of June. Representatives of the National Movement, on the orders of MP Nugzar Abulashvili, dispersed a protest of journalists and NGOs.

Journalists will gather in front of the Signaghi Regional Prosecutor’s Office at 12 o’clock. They demand a fair investigation into the case and the punishment of the criminals who were involved in dispersing the protest. If their demands are not met, some of the journalists plan to hold a hunger strike in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi.

“The Prosecutor’s Office is making a mockery of us - they only arrested two people. The third was released after paying a fine. People who have beaten us up, broken our cameras and verbally abused us are still free. Nothing has been done to punish the police officers that were observing the incident and doing nothing to stop it,” declare the victims.

Besides those already arrested Vano Vardiashvili and three other men were also involved in dispersing the protest. Police have detailed descriptions of their appearances. Police officers Iago Kochlamazashvili, Besik Pkhovelishvili, Gia Sirashvili and two others did nothing to confront the violence; on the contrary, they helped the members of National Party. Teachers from the Vakhiri School and its Director Iza Bughatrishvili, together with 13-14 year-old pupils were also involved in dispersing the protest.

Gela Mtivlishvili from Kakheti