Two people detained after attack on journalists in Georgia

In Chiatura, policemen detained two men suspected of attacking a journalist and a TV channel operator who prepared a report from the village of Shukruti, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has reported.

The reasons for the attack are still unknown; the criminal case was initiated under the article "Illegal obstruction of the professional activities of journalists, committed with a threat of violence", which provides for up to two years in prison, the "Sputnik Georgia" has reported today with reference to the Georgian MIA.

One of the detainees has a criminal record, the "News-Georgia" has added today.

According to Anuka Liparishvili, a journalist, in the village of Shukruti several persons attacked Sandro Vashakidze, a cameraman, and also insulted her and the driver.

"We were gathering materials for a report and conducted interviews, and when we were driving to one of the respondents, with whom we had agreed in advance, a foreign-made car began chasing us. Moving at high speed, they threatened to crash into us. When we arrived at the respondent's address, unknown men got out of the car and began insulting us. We tried to do our job, but they deliberately interfered with it; when Sandro, the cameraman, turned on his camera, the aggressors attacked and beat him up. They were drunk and aggressive," the "Georgia Online" quoted Anuka as saying on February 16.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 17, 2021 at 11:21 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.