Journalism wins: Court decides in favor of Teona Bakuridze for her illegal  dismissal

The Kutaisi court has decided a significant case. In its decision court gave its decision in favor of TV journalist Teona Bakuridze   who was fired by the management. This is being seen as a victory for all the journalists who are working for the upliftment of people’s rights and the protection of civil rights across the country.

Teona Bakuridze was working at  Batumi based public broadcaster TV channel when he was fired by the director of the TV channel. Now the court   had recognized as invalid the order of the former director of the TV station, Giorgi Kokhreidze, to dismiss her.

She was critical of the policies of the news channel and was fired in March 2020.  In the order of dismissal, the Director accused her   of violation the internal rules and regulations of the channel and assaulting the acting head of the newsroom Giorgi Abazadz. She was further accused of hindering Giorgi Abazadz from  performing his official duties which is a grave violation of the internal rules.   Before  firing she   was   temporarily dismissed for performing of his duties and putting unnecessary pressure on Abazadze.

Bakuridze took to her  Facebook page and stated that t “ although it was a long fight of four years but finally truth wins. The GD wants to change the policy of the chhanel that we used to oppose.  She admitted that due to some technical reason, she lost the case in the inheritance court but finally the court of  appeal  reward the truth by  deciding the case in her favor.”

She further noted that the court has ordered the defendant to pay compensation equal to six months salary however but it didn’t satisfy the discrimination part of the lawsuit, which Bakuridze says she will continue to contest. She also expressed hopes that this decision will encourage all the journalist to raise their voice against the wrongs.