The Special Investigation Service announced that on November 18-19, during the rally on Chavchavadze and Melikishvili Avenues, an investigation was launched into incidents of illegal interference in the journalistic activities of employees from various channels.
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The investigation is being conducted under the first and second parts of Article 154 of the Criminal Code, which pertain to illegally obstructing a journalist in their professional activities and committing the same act through threats of violence or misuse of official authority.
Sergi Baramidze, an operator for the TV company Mtavari Arkhi, appeared at the Special Investigation Service today. He had been arrested by police during the dispersal of the rally on Melikishvili Avenue. During his unlawful arrest, the police broke his video camera.
"I told the investigators how I was arrested and what physical injuries I sustained. I was filming, capturing footage of people being arrested, and at that moment, I was physically assaulted by the police. They didn’t warn me or say anything like ‘move out of the way.’ They just approached me directly and started yelling," Baramidze told journalists.
According to his lawyer, Giorgi Tabatadze, they requested the Special Investigation Service to launch an investigation. As a result, a case was initiated under the third part of Article 333 of the Criminal Code, which addresses police officers exceeding their official authority through violence. This crime is punishable by imprisonment for five to eight years and deprivation of the right to hold office or work for up to three years.
Journalists from the government-affiliated TV channel Imedi also participated in the investigation. According to one of them, Dito Kirimlishvili, on November 19, while working on Chavchavadze and Melikishvili Avenues, he faced aggression from rally participants. "There were several incidents throughout the day, but the aggression escalated particularly during the live broadcast," he said.
While covering the rally, police officers physically assaulted Mindia Gabadze, a journalist for the publication Publica. Additionally, OC Media journalist Mariam Nikuradze and Netgazeti journalist Givi Avaliani were obstructed from performing their professional duties.
