16:23, 2 April 2004

Adjarian policemen recognize absurdity of accusations against Batumtsi newspaper staff

On March 31, staff of the opposition newspaper Batumtsi were detained and conveyed to an addiction clinic for examination.

Eteri Turadze, an employee of the newspaper, commented on the incident: "We were detained in the afternoon and told there were suspicions that we were drugged. After all, officers of the Adjarian Interior Ministry's anti-drug department recognized the absurdity of the accusations brought against us. I cannot say to whom this idea occurred, but I am sure the incident is political by nature since the Adjarian police know well we are not drug takers."

Editors note: See also the article "Opposition newspaper staff detained in Adjaria".

Author: Tengiz Ablotiya, expert of the Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations

Source: Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations (Moscow)