GYLA’s Georgian Media Legal Defense Center held a press conference on media-related issues on December 6, 2012. Further, it provided information to Chief Prosecutor Archil Kbilashvili about illegal actions perpetrated against media representatives. 

 

Throughout the recent years there have been important violations committed against media representatives in Georgia. Frequently journalists were deprived of the opportunity to freely pursue their activities; their own equipment and personal safety was frequently at risk. GYLA’s Georgian Media Legal Defense Center has reported a number of similar facts. 

 

GYLA was periodically publishing statements in relation to each individual case, addressing law enforcement authorities with a request for further actions. Regrettably, frequently investigation was neither prompt nor effective. Most of the cases remain unexamined and a probe has yet to be launched in some.  

 

We believe that not paying due attention to a number of acts perpetrated against journalists considerably violates rights of media representatives, deteriorates their working conditions and discourages freedom of expression in the country. 

 

To restore violated rights of media representatives, the GMLDC has provided information about 38 cases to the Chief Prosecutor. 

 

We remain hopeful that prompt and objective probe will be ensured in each individual case to remedy important deficiencies that existed before.