Those who verbally and/or physically abuse media representatives should be punished - Ian Kelly on Kobakhidze's attack

The former ambassador of the United States to Georgia, Ian Kelly, responds to the attack on the "Mtavari Channel" journalist by Irakli Kobakhidze. He says that the state should punish those people who abuse media representatives both physically and verbally. According to him, this was a backward step in terms of European integration.

 Any time you make very hostile statements against the media, it's very dangerous. You know the former president here said that the media is the enemy of the people. This is disgusting to me. Personal and offensive attacks on people doing their jobs reflect very poorly on those who represent the country. Especially in an environment where people are being attacked and journalists are trying to do their job.

One of the conditions of the European Union is to support independent media, not to attack it. The state should punish those who physically and/or verbally abuse media representatives. I think Kobakhidze's behavior was a very big step against implementing EU conditions, - says Ian Kelly.