[CivilSoc] Association Protests Violence to Georgian Journalists

Fri, 7 Sep 2001 10:50:20 -0700 (PDT)

From: Azer H.Hasret <[email protected]>
To: IFEX Action Alert Network <[email protected]>
Independent Association of Georgian Journalists expresses its protest
IAGJ/CASCFEN - Independent Association of Georgian Journalists
expresses its special anxiety on the occasion of media condition in
Georgia, particularly on safety issue of journalists. For the last
years the occurred facts of violence to the media worker till now are
no opened. Situation is worsened by the fact, that according the
statement of victims, they have been persecuted from the police and
other authorities. There was passed more than enough time, but the
criminal cases [based] on these facts, have remained on a paper.
According to the official information, there is no revealed persons
guilty of attempt on journalists life.
Recent murder of known journalist Giorgija Sanaja confirms that
catastrophic situatiuon in which Georgian media forced to work.
Unfortunately, results of investigation deprive us of hope that
murderer of George Sanaja will be punished. Our pessimism is caused
as well by the fact that investigation carry on by the persons some
of whom exposed the journalists to aggression. Among them the
assistant to the general public prosecutor, Venedi Benidze, which two
years ago has threatened one of journalists to kill him.
Unfortunately despite of greate number of protests addressed to the
Office of Public Prosecutor and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a
situation has not changed. The persons heading these structures [show
little] concern to the safety issue of journalists. They openly
ignore journalists who on their belief support reform forces in
Georgia. It suggests an idea us about the political reasons of
attempts at journalists.
The Independent Association of Georgian Journalists calls the
international organizations and journalists' associations to express
their support to media workers in Georgia and demand from a
Government of Georgia to take radical measures on the safety issue of
journalists.
Zviad Pochkhua,
President, Independent Association of Georgian Journalists
email: [email protected]
phone:(+995 32) 38 91 54
===============================
Distributed by: Central Asian & Southern Caucasus Freedom of Expression
Network (CASCFEN)
[email protected]
==============FSUMedia Mailing List===================
Should you desire to unsubscribe to this list, send to
[email protected] an e-mail with only this ...
unsubscribe fsumedia
...... in the body of the message.
Please send to [email protected] any questions or
comments about the list.