This is a coordinated attack on the media, which is alarming - NGOs call on the government to stop encouraging media aggression

The Coalition for Media Advocacy calls on the authorities to stop stirring up hostilities in the society and discrediting the media.

According to a statement issued by them, despite calls from civil society, "the Prime Minister has once again fueled aggression against members of the media."

Today, on July 23, 2021, the comment of the Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili was spread, where he called the journalists "abusers" and "party activists". Despite numerous appeals from civil society, the Prime Minister has once again fueled aggression against members of the media.

Yesterday, on July 22, 2021, the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Culture of Georgia Tea Tsulukiani took the microphone from the journalist of the "Mtavari Channel" and did not allow her to work. She later refused to return the television owned item. The behavior of the minister contains signs of a criminal offense. An investigation should be launched into the fact of illegal interference in journalistic activities, as well as the fact of misappropriation of other people's property.

Yesterday, the Public Relations Service of the Georgian Patriarchate issued a statement in which it sharply criticized the media and practically called on the clergy to stop communicating with the media with a critical editorial policy. The pathos of the patriarchate statement is in line with the public statements of the ruling team, which further exacerbates the risks of escalating violence against the media.

Partnerships of the Coalition for Media Advocacy believe that this is a coordinated attack on the media, which is alarming in the light of the fact that the government is not trying to take preventive measures to protect the safety of journalists and cameramen. , And does not detain organizers of unprecedented violence against the media on July 5-6.

We expect that the intensification of aggression against the media by the government and related forces will further increase the number of attacks on journalists and cameramen.

We call on the authorities to stop encouraging violence against journalists, to publicly distance themselves from the practice of violence against journalists, and to take steps to create a peaceful and secure environment.

We call on the law enforcement agencies to immediately launch an investigation into the seizure of property by Tea Tsulukiani's from the Mtavari Channel and the illegal interference with journalistic activities.

We call on all public figures, including the Georgian Patriarchate, to stop stirring up hostile sentiments in the society and discrediting the media," the statement said.