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For several days the main topic of National media means has been the quitting of ‘Alia’ newspaper by journalist Eka Sekhniashvili. Great part of non-official media has ‘reasonable doubt’ that this issue will be on the agenda for quite some time. As it seems the authorities and their media means are interested not in the fate of above mentioned newspaper or it’s journalist; their main target is non-power-connected, independent media organizations.

Several days ago a memorandum was published. It can be signed on 1 February, 2012 by any media outlet wishing to join the Media union “Solidarity for Media Freedom”. The initiator and organizer of this idea is Mamuka Ghlonti, one of the founders of Maestro TV Company. Below we publish the text of the Memorandum:

The emotions about ‘Maestro’ don’t subside. Last week the journalists together with Mamuka Glonti organized an action in front of police demanding from the law-enforcers to evict Erosi Kitsmarishvili from the TV Company. In the meantime the latter was busy with preparing the party congress. At the same time Erosi Kitsmarishvili (founder of the managing company) promised the people to start broadcasting of new ‘Maestro’ and demanded USD 7 million from the founders. 

Texts in Georgian and English on the front pages of almost all newspapers

Out of 140-150 specialized press booths, which have been operating around Tbilisi, only few remain. Even these few are expected to be closed before the end of the year. Free press is in for deepest trouble ever. It’s a long time since journalists of independent media are at pain to access public information. Now, more hardships are coming as the distribution of information obtained under such tenuous work is also becoming a big issue.A big-scale war against press took off in 2009.

The First Diplomat Award Ceremony – Coming Soon

December 15, Restaurant “Cruize”, 7 PM… An unprecedented event in Georgian media space is going to take place. Our newspaper and publishing house “Media Palitra” are launching a grandiose project. Georgian Journal will identify the Diplomat of the Year. From now on, the Diplomat Award Ceremony will be held annually.

Wife of State Security Council Chairman vs. ‘Media Palitra’

Lika  Keratishvili

Nino  Kvitashvili

Maya Purtseladze, Editor-in-Chief of ‘Versia’ newspaper:

-   If the ‘Tabula’ magazine and its editor Tamar Chergoleishvili (wife of Giga Bokeria, Chairman of State Security Council) are dissatisfied, let them terminate contract with ‘Elvaservice’ (distribution company of ‘Media Palitra’). Unfortunately, every Editor-in-Chief in Georgia can’t become Bokeria’s wife in order to get benefits and privileges. If anybody throws stones at ‘Palitra’ or ‘Versia’, let less faulty people do it. 

Ado in TV Company

One of the founders of MAESTRO TV Company Mamuka Ghlonti said: What is happening in Maestro is a special operation and recurrence of what took place in IMEDI TV Company years ago. 

“Tbilisi government wants to eat the press”

If we are to believe Georgian experts and politicians, the Authorities always take on the mass media when they face real political rivals. This time, their attack is targeting press distribution booths. Two days ago, Press Association initiated a protest rally in front of the City Mayor’s Office that gathered many media representatives to launch a challenge against the controversial move of Tbilisi Authorities. Eliso Chapidze, representative of Resonance newspaper and one of the rally organizers, told us that they prepared an appeal to the EU and heads of other international organizations to seek their support.