One arrested for physical assault of journalists in Kvemo-Kartli region

One person has been arrested for physically assaulting journalists of TV Pirveli channel yesterday in the Tsalka Municipality of central Georgia. 

Footage released by TV Pirveli shows representative of Tsalka Municipality Giorgi Aprasidze swearing at journalists and throwing a microphone at them. 

The TV Pirveli journalists arrived in the village of Tsintskaro to cover the issue of misappropriation of the municipality building after which Giorgi Afrasidze insulted the TV Pirveli journalists both physically and verbally. 

TV Pirveli published the video showing how the people verbally and physically assaulted journalists:

The locals were telling us that Aprasidze’s family had misappropriated the municipality building and was using it as a living space. We came to verify this information”, said journalist Nino Elikashvili. 

TV Pirveli reports the governor himself and other citizens also took part in the conflict.

The investigation established that G.A. confronted the journalist and the cameraman of TV Pirveli, insulted them and illegally interfered with their professional activities on June 30, in the village of Tsintskaro, Tsalka Municipality”, says the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 

Mayor of Tbilisi Kakha Kaladze and Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava responded to the incident and underscored that journalistic activity should not be obstructed.

Journalistic activities should not be obstructed and such violence should not occur… Especially, when you are an official, you should be an example of how to communicate with a journalist and thus prevent any kind of violence”, said Kuchava. 

The crime is punishable by up to 2 years of imprisonment.