Official statement of "Mtavari Channel" about the detention of our journalist Nodar Rukhadze

"Mtavari Channel" makes an official statement and demands immediate release of journalist Nodar Rukhadze, detained at the November 9 rally.

“Mtavari Channel condemns the brutal violence in the country, used by the Georgian government against peaceful protesters and demonstrators over the past two days.

We are sorry and sympathetic to all the detainees and injured, however, we will draw your attention today to the repressive act against the outstanding young journalist of our channel, Nodar Rukhadze. We note here that he acted today not as a journalist, but as a public activist (and his work in this field is even more remarkable) and acted, in our belief, in full compliance with the Constitution, with the powers conferred by the law on the freedom of speech and expression, and as a patriot and distinguished citizen of this country.

At the moment we already have full information about the details of his arrest and we declare:Nodar Rukhadze is a victim of an illegal repressive act, which was deliberately carried out against him, on the one hand, as a prominent leader of the protest movement, and, on the other hand, as the journalist of the most critical television station.

The arrest of Nodar Rukhadze is completely illegal, contrary to the Constitution and legislation of Georgia and in flagrant violation of the standards established by international law and the Strasbourg Human Rights Court.

Based on the above, we demand his immediate release and full restoration of his violated rights," the statement said.