Niko Managadze, the founder of the student movement For Freedom, has been summoned by the Special Investigation Service for questioning. The agency is investigating allegations of illegal interference in the journalistic activities of employees from various channels during the protest on Chavchavadze and Melikishvili Avenues on November 18–19. According to Managadze, he was summoned for questioning based on an appeal from the government-affiliated TV channel Imedi.
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According to the activist, he questioned the Imedi journalist during a live broadcast about the illegal arrest of Sergi Baramidze, the operator of the Mtavari Arkhi TV company.
"I asked them on live air if they condemned the police violence against their colleague - the cameraman of the Mtavari Arkhi - the destruction of his camera, and his illegal arrest. I also asked if they had informed their viewers about this incident and aired the footage showing it. This is the same television station that constantly refers to November 7 and the mistreatment of their journalists under the previous government.
The tragicomic part is that no case was opened against the 'policemen' who, to put it mildly, brutally prevented a media representative from performing their duties. They physically assaulted me, broke the camera, and arrested me. Yet, I am now accused of obstructing journalistic activity simply for questioning their 'colleagues' about these actions on live broadcast. P.S. Imedi TV company contacted us about this matter," wrote Niko Managadze on social media.
The Special Investigation Service is investigating the case under the first and second parts of Article 154 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to the illegal interference in a journalist’s professional activities and the same actions committed under threats of violence or abuse of official status.
Yesterday, November 20, journalists from Imedi TV station appeared at the investigative service. After completing the questioning, one of them, Dito Kirimlishvili, stated that during the rally on Chavchavadze and Melikishvili Avenues, they were subjected to aggression by demonstrators, particularly during live broadcasts. According to journalist Megi Narsavidze, the rally participants not only obstructed them from performing their professional duties but also physically prevented them from moving.
“They did not allow us to join or move to the area near TSU. They forcibly removed us from the area, physically touching us and ejecting us. I think it is important to address such incidents because journalists must be able to work without interference or insults,” said Narsavidze.
Niko Managadze, a student at Tbilisi State University and a civil activist, has been actively protesting the Russian law introduced by the Georgian Dream. Every Saturday, he organized rallies to confront Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who gave lectures at the second building of TSU. On June 7, Niko Managadze was attacked and physically assaulted near the university. While the Ministry of Internal Affairs initiated an investigation into the case of group violence, five months later, no one has been held accountable.
