Mtis Ambebi and Georgian News Editor in Chief, Journalist Gela Mtivlishvili, was arrested during coverage of an anti-eviction action on Kekelidze Street in Tbilisi. He was subsequently released based on a handwritten note, after approximately 6 hours in custody. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has accused him of disobeying a legal request from the police, an offense punishable by a fine of 2000 to 3000 GEL or administrative imprisonment for up to 15 days. Mtivlishvili maintains that he did not break the law and alleges that the police physically abused him following his arrest.
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"I was arrested completely without grounds and illegally. I had only been there for 2-3 minutes to cover the action. I will not even describe the level of hatred they showed.
When they put me in the car, three out of five police officers became aggressive when I insisted on knowing the reason for the arrest, the grounds, and the right to call a lawyer. One of them jumped out of the back seat, another was next to me, and they started to suffocate me. This is nothing less than an inhuman act.
I needed medical help due to stress, but they refused to call an ambulance. I was trapped in the police car for 40 minutes. Eventually, they received an order and took me to the Vake-Saburtalo police department. Even there, during the initial stages, police detectives continued to humiliate me - calling me a provocateur, demanding to get rid of me, labeling me an intriguer - these were some of the degrading words used. About an hour later, a doctor was finally called to the department, who provided me with assistance. After much deliberation and hesitation, unlike other detainees, I was released with just a handwritten note.
I do not admit to any violation because I did not commit one. Regardless of the court's decision, I will pursue this case to the end," says Gela Mtivlishvili.
During the eviction, the police also used force against other journalists. Rati Ratiani, a journalist from the online platform Broadcaster, was standing on the roof of a car, providing live coverage of the events, when a policeman grabbed his hand and threw him down. Based on the publication, police officers also physically assaulted three more journalists - Natia Karchiladze, Ani Giorgadze, and Giorgi Arobelidze.
The employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested a total of 20 people on Kekelidze Street. Two of the arrested individuals are charged with a criminal offense for damaging the vehicle of the National Enforcement Bureau, while the remaining 18 face charges of disobeying the legal request of a police officer and violating public order.
According to the Media Advocacy Coalition, the incidents of illegal interference in the activities of journalists and the arrest of a journalist worsen the media environment and constitute a clear violation of the fundamental rights of journalists.
The coalition called on the Special Investigation Service to immediately investigate the cases of violence against journalists, illegal interference in their professional activities, and illegal detention. "It is important to conduct a quick and thorough investigation of the mentioned incidents, followed by the identification and prosecution of the guilty parties," the statement said.
The Charter of Journalistic Ethics of Georgia also demands that law enforcement agencies investigate the instances of illegal restriction of journalists' freedom and the excessive force used by police officers during arrests.
