Media.ge, Gori, 13 Nov 2008 – On Nov 13 an incident occurred between the security police officer and a journalist by the entrance of Gori administrative building. Today members of the newly founded regional association of journalists and journalists of media outlets of different Georgian cities visited villages in Gori region affected by the August warfare to cover the situation. At the end of the day five journalists arrived at the administrative building of Gori and demanded meeting with Davit Khmiadashvili, head of the municipality of Gori region.
The administrative building is guarded by the state security service. One of the security officers demanded journalist Gela Mtvlivishvili to first obtain permit to access the building. Mtvlivishvili didn’t resist although protested out loud against the permit bureau in the administrative building. The security officer verbally insulted the journalist. Mtvlivishvili applied to the head of regional police Vladimir Jugheli to react. Officers of the city police department arrived at the site of the incident in five minutes. They urged Mtvlivishvili to write a statement and testify. Meanwhile head of the press office of Gori Municipality, Elza Mikeladze interfered and set up a meeting of the journalists with the governor.
Davit Khmiadashvili informed the journalists he wasn’t aware of the incident. Afterward the governor answered journalists’ questions. Davit Khmiadashvili told MEDIA.GE that the bureau of permits and the state security service has been operating in the building since February 2005 after the terroristic act in Gori. Besides, Gori is bordered by a conflict zone hence strict safety measures are taken to secure buildings of strategic importance.
After the meeting with the governor police officers took journalists to the Gori police department to file a complaint and testify. Mtvlivishvili accused local police of bias and expressed his distrust of the police department. He refused to testify and left the building. The journalist will apply to the office of the general prosecutor regarding the incident. Although Mtvlivishvili didn’t testify, as the head of the regional police Vladimir Jugheli reports legal proceedings have been given to the case on the basis of the notification received and investigation is in process.
Goga Aptsiauri, Gori
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