On May 7 journalist Irakli Vachiberadze of the Kutaisi-based newspaper P.S. lodged a complaint to Kutaisi regional Prosecutor’s Office with a request to launch investigation into criminal actions carried out against him on May 2 and 3.

The actions taken by the self government body and the United National Movement activists include illegal interference into the professional activities of the journalist, beating and abuse of power. Accordingly I would kindly request to launch investigation in regard to the aforementioned case,” Irakli Vachiberadze points out in his application.

The P.S. journalist encountered problems on May 2 with President Saakashvili’s security guards. On May 3 he clashed with the security guards of Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili and Vice Speaker Mikheil Machavariani. The incident took place at Meliton Balanchivadze Opera and Ballet Theatre hosting the closed meeting between Vano Merabishvili and Mikheil Machavariani and UNM activists. The journalist alleges he was physically abused by security guards.