Journalists of Newspaper "Tavisupali Sitkva" Demand Protection from Government Pressure

Journalists of Newspaper "Tavisupali Sitkva" Demand Protection from Government Pressure

Newspaper "Tavisupali Sitkva" has been implementing a Eurasia Foundation-funded anticorruption project. The budget monitoring and publication of a free newspaper seriously bother the local authorities, who are openly pressuring and persecuting the journalists of "Tavisupali Sitkva".

On July 26 the editorial staff of that newspaper held a press conference in connection with that. The representatives of the news-paper talked about pressure on them.

Fact #1

The owner of the house, which the news-paper was renting as office, asked them to leave the flat. ‘Tavisupali Sitkva’ connected it with the leader of Poti ‘Nationalist Party’ David Shurgaia. News paper has recently published different articles about Shurgaia.

Shurgaia came to the office of newspaper and offered them cooperation, “it will be better for you”, he said. On our comments, why the owner of the house was terminating the contract, Shurgaia said: “If you continue like that, you will have the office out of the city. However, if you decide to be friends with me, I will call the owner of the house and he will apologize.” Several days ago, ‘Tavisupali Sitkva’ has moved to the new office.

Fact #2

‘Tavisupali Sitkva’ has published interview with the head of Poti Port Lasha Akhaladze. The article was about the mafia connections in the company. Journalist Nino Tuntia talks about several people, relatives of Akhaladze, who were appointed to a high positions, during Akhaladze’s ruling.

After nine days the mother of Besarion Jojua, head of the department in the Port, came to the journalist. Tuntia’s family was renting a room in Jojua’s house. Naira Jojua demanded from them to immediately leave the house. Tontuas are changing house at the moment.

The newspaper asks international organizations, Georgian Ombudsman, Parliament's Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee and their colleagues to protect their rights and react to the abovementioned facts.

media.ge