Appeals by Former Imedi TV Journalists to be Submitted to European Court of Human Rights

Tbilisi-based NGO Human Rights Priority is to submit the appeals by former Imedi TV journalists to the European Court of Human Rights in the forthcoming days.

Former Imedi TV staff are appealing the violation of their fundamental rights followed after the November 7, 2007 raid into Imedi TV premises. In addition journalists are appealing inefficient investigation conducted by the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia.

At this state the organization is to send 12 individual appeals.

The complainants include: Thea Sichinava, Diana Trapaidze, John Kalandadze, Giorgi Akhvlediani (incumbent MP), Irakli Moseshvili, Tengiz Mezurnishvili, Nino Sakvarelidze, Giorgi Rukhadze, Ana Gochashvili, Natia Mikiashvili, Levan Vepkhvadze (incumbent MP) and Magdalina Anikashvili (incumbent MP).

On November 7, 2007 the opposition multi-day protest rally demanding President Saakashvili's step-down ended up with the dispersal of protestors by the riot police. Journalists too, covering the attacks between policemen and the rally participants were injured. On the same day the riot police raided Imedi TV premises, having destroyed the technical equipments. Afterwards the authorities temporarily took the TV broadcasting off the air. The authorities accused the TV company of having provocated political tension.

According to Lia Mukhashavria on November 7, 2007 in addition to hindering the professional activities of journalists, their right to life and the right to restrict torture and violence was breached as well in addition to the right to private life and freedom of information - the rights strictly protected by the European Convention.

"All the circumstances is a testament of targeted pressure upon journalists, in a professional manner. Even though the Prosecutor's Office none of the journalists have been interrogated so far and the process investigation hasn't moved forward, therefore we are going to submit the appeals to the Strasbourg Court. It is going to be a precedent when Georgian Authorities will be held responsible for the crime," said lawyer Lia Mukhashavria reporting to Media.ge.

According to her 12 is not the final amount of appeals - the elaboration of appeals is being on.

"Our door is open for other affected journalists as well and we are waiting for them, only Imedi TV journalists are not being concerned, we are going to render assistance to any journalist whose right was violated when working on November 7. Each appeal is individual and is being sent individually," Lia Mukhashavria clarified.

In November 2007 Imedi TV journalists lodged a joint complaint to the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia. Up to 130 Imedi TV staff demanded the investigation to be launched into the case. The complainants additionally sent two reminders to the Prosecutor's Office but no response has been made so far. The complaint, after having been introduced to Joseph Kay (Imedi TV owner since the spring 2008), was not sent to Strasbourg.

The only thing being clear is that the state paid the TV company, without the court's interference, GEL 3, 500, 000 to compensate to technical loss inflicted as a result of the TV raid.

Former Imedi TV journalist Diana Trapaidze, one of 12 journalists having filed the appeal, said she wants to once and forever find out the truth; Who shall be found guilty of the November 7 events - journalists or the authorities?

"I would like the November 7 events to be cleared. Maybe I was the one being guilty staging the state coup? I want to have a legal clarification. On November 7 my rights were violated.

We call the appeal to be submitted to the Strasbourg Court not the appeal against Georgia but the appeal for better Georgia, the country where journalists are not going to be treated the way they did on November 7," said Diana Trapaidze.

According to MP Giorgi Akhvlediani, former Imedi TV journalist the authorities shall be sooner or later held responsible for the committed crime and Strasbourg Court is to reach the verdict on the case.

For two years now journalist Thea Sichinava, she said, has been posing a question what is being on in regard to the investigation into Imedi TV raid case and no response has been provided by the authorities, therefore she decided to file an appeal.

"If at least once there is a precedent of punishment for someone's crime and especially if this someone is going to be the authorities everyone will be feeling secure in the country and media will be protected," said Thea Sichinava reporting to Media.ge.