The Coalition for Media Advocacy responds to unlawful interference with journalistic activities of the “Courier” crew

On October 10, 2018, the “Courier” Crew was hindered from disseminating the information.

As it turns out in the report broadcasted in the media, the media representatives were preparing a report on the violations revealed during the construction of a new railway line. During the video recording representatives of the Georgian office of 23^rd Bureau of the Chinese Railway took the camera away from “Courier” Journalist and tried to delete grabbed video footage, equipment belonging to TV Channel was locked up by the company representatives for several hours.

We believe that there is unlawful interference with the journalist’s professional activities provided for by Article 154 of the Criminal Code-coercing a journalist into not disseminating information. At the same time signs of other crime may also be identified.

We call upon the relevant investigative bodies to make timely and effective response, envisaged by law, to the mentioned fact, in order to prevent cases of interference with the activities of journalists in future.