GYLA Responds to Violation of Rights of Media Representatives

Rights of journalists were restricted at Nadzaladevi election precinct N24. In particular, reporters of Rezonasi - Salome Sigua, Tamta Kakauridze and Iago Natsvlishvili were insulted verbally by observers of Civil Society and Democracy Center, a non-governmental organization, and the Caucasian Research Center, who identified themselves as representatives of the Georgian Dream. They also attempted to abuse these journalists physically.

GYLA is protecting rights of the journalists. In particular, GYLA’s observer on site filed a complaint with Nadzaladevi DEC, seeking drawing up of a protocol of administrative violation for interference with journalistic reporting, punishable with a fine in the amount of GEL 500.

The conflict was caused by photo shooting by journalists outside the polling station, capturing people standing in groups. Notably, these groups of people were registering voters that arrived at the polling station.

We would like to note that GYLA’s observer has reported a group of individuals outside Nadzaladevi election precincts N31, 33, 34, 36, 39, 40, 59, 60, 89, 90, 78, 80, 81, 85, 86, registering voters that arrived at the polling stations. We would like to reiterate that this qualifies as an indirect control exerted over voters’ will and is inappropriate.

GYLA remains hopeful that the authorities will take further adequate actions in response to these incidents.

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15, J. Kakhidze str. 0102, Tbilisi, Georgia. Tel: (995 32) 95 23 53; Fax: (995 32) 92 32 11; E-mail: gyla@gyla.ge; www.gyla.ge