Police investigate attack on suspect in the Georgia-Azerbaijan ‘land forfeit’ case, Mtavari TV crew in David Gareji
Iveri Melashvili told Palitra TV that this attack ‘seemed to be orchestrated’ by someone else. Photo: Mzia Saganelidze/RFERL
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Police are investigating an attack on a suspect in the Georgia-Azerbaijan ‘land forfeit’ case Iveri Melasvhili and the crew of opposition-minded Mtavari Arkhi TV which occurred earlier today in David Gareji.
Mtavari Arkhi TV has reported that Melashvili and their crew were attacked by drunk clergy while they were making a video report.
Iveri Melashvili. Photo: Mzia Saganelidze/RFERL
Mtavari Arkhi TV journalist Ninutsa Kekelia said that a cleric came up to them saying that Melashvili is a traitor and that he had no right to go to David Gareji.
The situation became tense when other clerics and civilians joined, offending the TV crew and damaging the camera.
Condemning any type of attack on media representatives the Public Defender’s Office said free and critical media play vital role in democratic society.
We call on the law enforcers to timely and effectively investigate attacks on journalists”, Public Defender’s office said.
It further noted that the attackers should be brought to justice to end the impunity.
Only two-thirds of the state border has been agreed upon with Azerbaijan so far, which on several occasions triggered tension in David Gareji back in 2019. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Iveri Melashvili and Natalia Ilichova were detained last October for withholding materials from a border agreement with Azerbaijan that, according to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office, led to the forfeit of about 3,500 hectares of lands against Georgia’s interests.
They were released on 20,000 GEL bail each in January after the Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office requested the bail, stating that there was no need for pretrial detention.
Denying the charges the suspects have appealed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).