Tbilisi: As police and another member of the law enforcement agencies have launched a crackdown on protestors another journalist has been attacked. The journalist of the Indigo publication was prevented from carrying out his professional activities
As per the updated information, the incident occurred on May 14. On that day a representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs took away a small camera from the journalist of the “Indigo” publication while covering the rally against the Russian law near the Parliament of Georgia and prevented him from doing his professional work.
According to the journalist Saba Sordia he immediately after the incident contacted the press office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and also approached the General Inspection and the Public Security Management Center but no help was provided. Moreover the representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have not returned the camera to the journalist yet.
The journalist Saba Sordia further noted that the officers of the patrol police had already interrogated him. He was also summoned by the Special Investigation Service for questioning where questions were asked on many topics including his role in the ongoing protests as well. Earlier similar incident also happened when a policeman physically and verbally assaulted Giorgi Zhamerashvili photojournalist of “Interpress News” news agency. Speaking to “Radio Liberty” Giorgi Zhamerashvili said that “the law enforcement officer twisted his hand, hit him with a baton on his leg.
He also accused that he was verbally insulted when he was trying to move on Rustaveli Avenue, in the direction of the first school. It is worth noting that in the background of the noise and disturbance at the rally, in the process of arresting one of the citizens, the law enforcement officers brought the journalist Rati Mujiri into the courtyard of the building. The “Formula” journalist tried to help the young citizen.
The Non-government organization and the media advocacy coalition have shared the information in this regard on their social media handles where the people have criticized the action of the police strongly as well.
