‘Classified information’ – interview with Giorgi Abdaladze

On July 22 Tbilisi City Court took into account the request of Chief Prosecutor of Georgia to pass a sentence to accused Zurab Kurtsikidze, Giorgi Abdaladze, Irakli Gedenidze and Natia Gedenidze without considering it in essence. At the open hearing the court confirmed the procedural agreement between the prosecutor and ‘spies’.

Giorgi Abdaladze, one of the photojournalists arrested and charged with espionage in favor of Russia, has given confession statement to investigators, his lawyers said on July 16.

Georgia in the global limelight

The story about the arrest of the photo reporters in Georgia now has spread to every corner of the world. Even leading publications and organizations grew suspicious about the case. Some people openly support the protest wave. It is in this currents where a new sentiment emerged – “I am a journalist, therefore  I am a spy”.

10 July 2011

IAGJ, Tbilisi. Independent Association of Georgian Journalists, member of IFJ is expressing its deep concern over detention of prominent photo-reporters in Tbilisi.

Journalists appeal to international organizations

Irakli Gedenidze, photographer of the Presidential Press Service, Natia Gedenidze, his spouse and photo correspondent of Prime-Time, Giorgi Abdaladze , contractor of Georgian Foreign Affairs Ministry and photographer of Alia Holding, Zurab Khurtsikidze, representative of European Pressphoto Agency, and Shakh Aivazov, photo correspondent of Associated Press in Georgia – all were arrested at their homes in the early morning of 7 July, 2011.

“We had to either cease to exist or dispose of our TV via auction”

Nearly all media organizations protested against the entry of the revenue service into the Media Palitra for a checkup. Only few newspapers decided that it was not worth to protest basing of their argument only on suspicions. We asked Merab Merkviladze, Director of  Channel 25, why media is so “suspicious” and whether media is free of political pressure in Georgia.

The Revenue Service of the Ministry of Interior Affairs launched an audit in six entities of MediaPalitra on 7 June. Stores of four entities were sealed up . 
MediaPalitra does not have anything against a tax audit. However, simultaneous launching of the unexpected audit in six separate entities of MediaPalitra leads to logical doubts and concerns regarding possible attempts to exercise pressure on free media.

Unfortunately, the events that took place in the Capital of Georgia lately, did not end without casualties. Besides killed and injured people, among the victims of Popular Forum protest rally, dispersed in front of the Parliament building there were our colleagues – Media Palitra’ journalists as well.

This spring Media Development Foundation, supported by the Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF), launched a month-long media monitoring activities. The project involves invited and OSGF media experts. The project itself is a year-long venture and it intends monitoring of several themes by media experts. The project seeks to assess Georgian media activities against the legislative and media standards, as well as to identify ethical or professional issues in the media, organize discussion and promote professional media development. Currently, media monitoring closely follows nine themes. Presentation of the results will take place in a few days.