(GDF/IFEX) – According to GDF, on 27 May 1998, Georgy Chanya, a correspondent for the Tbilisi newspaper “Resonance”, was killed in the Gali region of Abkhazia (eastern central Georgia). Chanya was last seen on 26 May 1998, by a cameraman with the independent Georgian television company “Rustavi-2”, in his native village of Saberio, during military […]
(GDF/IFEX) – According to GDF, on 27 May 1998, Georgy Chanya, a
correspondent for the Tbilisi newspaper “Resonance”, was killed in the Gali
region of Abkhazia (eastern central Georgia). Chanya was last seen on 26 May
1998, by a cameraman with the independent Georgian television company
“Rustavi-2”, in his native village of Saberio, during military actions
between Georgian guerrilla and Abkhazian armed groups. After the military
operation was finished, Abkhazian military personnel showed Georgians
several photos of those who had perished in the fighting, and one of
Chanya’s relatives recognized him in one of the photos. According to GDF,
fourteen journalists have been killed during the period of military actions
in Abkhazia (1992-1998).
Background Information
Abkhazia broke away from Georgia in 1992, triggering a civil war that left
some 10,000 people dead in the former Soviet republic. Since then, it has
enjoyed de facto independence but remains unrecognised by the outside world.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
impartial investigation into Chanya’s murder, in consideration of the fact
that the punishment of the perpetrators of this crime and the promulgation
of the results of the inquiry are in the interest of the state and of
justice
Appeals To
His Excellency Eduard Shevardnaze
President
Tbilisi
Republic of Georgia
Fax: +99 532 99 92 00Vadislav Ardzinba
Leader of Abkhazia
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
