The Deputy Head of the Tbilisi Patrol Police, Goga Memanishvili, stated regarding the arrest of Sergi Baramidze, an cameraman for the TV company Mtavari Arkhi, that they do not protect media representatives from arrest during rallies.
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"There was no violence. Does immunity protect the cameraman or the journalist? Shouldn’t he be arrested if he breaks the law and disobeys it? He was explained what he had violated. He did not obey the policeman’s legal request and verbally abused him. We will bring him to court and prove his innocence," Memanishvili told Formula TV.
Sergi Baramidze, a cameraman for a TV channel critical of the government, was arrested while performing his professional duties and detaining protesters on Melikishvili Avenue. The patrol officers broke his camera and took him to the Ministry of Internal Affairs building on Kakheti Highway, where he was released after about an hour. Baramidze had visible traces of violence on his face.
"They told me that I was breaking the rules, obstructing them, and that I was getting off the road. I don't know how much the operator will ask me. I’m not an activist, am I? I’m a cameraman, and I was just getting the news. Why they decided to arrest me is unbelievable. I have a bruised eye. I don’t know about the rest physically, but they beat me well. I was completely naked, they took off my coat and everything. The camera was no longer with me," said Sergi Baramidze after his release.
During the rally, police officers physically assaulted Mindia Gabadze, a journalist from Publica, and prevented Mariam Nikuradze from OC Media and Givi Avaliani from Netgazeti from carrying out their professional duties.
Illegally obstructing a journalist in their professional activities, including threats of violence or abuse of official status, is punishable under Article 154 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
"Law enforcement officers are obliged not to interfere with media representatives during protests, but, on the contrary, to contribute to the coverage of current events," stated the human rights organization Georgian Young Lawyers Association. They also noted that preventing journalists from doing their work violates international standards, including the freedom of expression protected by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
"Deliberately confiscating and/or damaging journalists' equipment, including captured footage, is prohibited. Such actions represent a practice forbidden by international standards and may be seen as censorship of media representatives," GYLA said in a statement.
The organization urges the Ministry of Internal Affairs not to interfere with media representatives during protests while they fulfill their professional duties. It also calls on the Special Investigative Service to promptly investigate the violence carried out by law enforcement officers and the illegal interference with journalists' professional activities.
