(JuHI/IFEX) – According to information sent by JuHI’s partner in Georgia, the Independent Association of Georgian Journalists (IAGJ), on 7 December 2002, at 6:00 a.m. (local time), officers from the Georgian Special Security Services and Ministry of Internal Affairs detained about 100 Chechens living in the country. The detainees include a journalist from the independent […]
(JuHI/IFEX) – According to information sent by JuHI’s partner in Georgia, the Independent Association of Georgian Journalists (IAGJ), on 7 December 2002, at 6:00 a.m. (local time), officers from the Georgian Special Security Services and Ministry of Internal Affairs detained about 100 Chechens living in the country. The detainees include a journalist from the independent daily “Tribuna”, deputy editor Yevgheniy Jokhidze, who was detained by five armed persons identified as policemen.
“It is clear that this [incident] is connected to the interview of Movladi Udugov, head of the Information Department of Chechnya, which was published in ‘Tribuna’ yesterday. As Russian media reported today, the operation in Tbilisi started after Udugov gave an interview to ‘Tribuna’,” IAGJ President Zviad Pochkhua explained.
In his interview, Udugov warned that the Georgian government had to be cautious in applying its decision to extradite Chechens to Russia.
On the same day, reporters from the Georgian independent television station CAUCASIA were beaten by police officers because they recorded comments from several of the detained Chechens.
About one week ago, the “Georgian Times” offered to carry information from the Chechen Information Agency “Kavkaz-Centr” on the newspaper’s website (www.geotimes.ge) after authorities from several countries closed the Chechen agency’s website (formerly at www.kavkaz.org).
“It is clear that today’s operation is not only repressive against Chechens but is also aimed at the independent media,” the IAGJ stated.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– protesting the police operation
– demanding that they guarantee journalists’ safety
– expressing disappointment over the government’s actions against reporters working on Chechen issues
Appeals To
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
Tel: + 995 32 98 93 44
E-mail: listsrv@mfa.gov.ge
Or contact:
Mr. Kaxa Sikharulidze
PR Department
Tel: +995 77 46 08 37Georgian President Press Center
Tel/Fax: +995 32 99 49 50 / +995 32 99 96 53 / +995 32 98 72 62 / +995 32 99 99 50
E-mail: office@presidpress.gov.gePublic Defender of Georgia
Tel: +995 99 18 01 33Zviad Pochkhua
President of the Independent Association of Georgian Journalists
Editor-in-chief of the “Georgian Times” and “Daily Tribuna”
37 Gorgasali Avenue
Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel: +995 32 93 10 25 / +995 32 99 60 97Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
