Formula TV employees attacked

Two employees of Formula TV have been attacked and physically assaulted at midnight on April 9.

Director General of Formula TV Zuka Gumbaridze stated earlier today that during curfew an unknown individual broke the window of a car owned by the channel’s driver.

Nothing was stolen from the car; it was just damaged. Police officers arrived on the spot, but we [Formula TV staff] have no information regarding the investigation”, said Gumbaridze earlier today.

The second incident also involved a Formula TV driver, who was attacked and sustained injuries to his body. 

While responding to the incidents, the Deputy General Director of the TV channel said ‘there is evidence that the attacks on TV channel employees were encouraged by government and political leaders’.

Following the incident the Georgian Interior Ministry stated that an investigation has been launched into damage to the car of the Formula TV driver.

Today, non-governmental organisation Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia) has called on authorities to timely investigate further incidents against media workers.

The incidents related to the Formula TV clearly show how difficult and dangerous it has become for the media to work in the conditions of the sharp political polarisation in the country. The government fails  to create a safe working environment for critical media representatives”, reads the statement of TI Georgia.

On February 24 Formula TV journalist Vakho Sanaia was also attacked by three individuals.

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After the incident Sanaia said that the three individuals expressed aggression against him as a journalist and that the attack was the result of a negative campaign against critical TV channels.

On February 27 the three attackers, Suliko Sakevarishvili, Giorgi Sakhelashvili and Vazha Gigauri were detained.