Archive
file
Contents
Statement of
MP-s, May 22, 1993 To
Staff of Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe,
United States Congress Honorable
Gentlemen, We permanently
receive information from Georgia, that in terms of your REPORT ON
GEORGIA'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS (November 1992) "armed
hooligans continue to terrorize populace", "Shevardnadze
or his police authorities deal harshly with non-violent opposition
forces" and "pro-Gamsakhurdia newspapers remain
closed". Only during
April (on 5-th, 14-th and 28-th of April) peaceful meetings and
demonstrations were brutally dispersed by police and members of
well-known "Mkhedrioni" and "National
Democratic Party" using police dogs, hundreds of innocent
citizens (most of them women) were severely beaten, even in church
(many this brutalities were witnessed by US ambassador in
Georgia). Here we send you
information about suppression of oppositional press: statement of
editorial staff of "IBERIA-SPEKTR" (just in the
same situation is "SAKARTVELOS SAMREKLO" ("Glockenspiel
of Georgia") - newspaper of KONSTANTINE GAMSAKHURDIA'S
SOCIETY and also statement of the relatives of political
prisoners. Respectfully
G.Gulbani, M.Kiknadze, T.Chachava
Members of Parliament of Georgia in exile
Statement of
Editorial Staff of "Iberia-Spektr"; May 21, 1993 Since last Tuesday readers have not received
"IBERIA-SPEKTR" - the most popular and second by
volume newspaper in Georgia. Printing is stopped by publishing
house. It is reckoned, that
authorities decide to do this by two reasons: First is, that one month ago "IBERIA-SPEKTR"
published statement, signed by 103 scientists of Tbilisi State
University with grounded demand resignation of Shevardnadze, as a
head of Georgian state and since then has been publishing
thousands of responses from every part of Georgia, supporting
scientists. Second reason is
that 26th of May - the Day of Independence of Georgia is near and
nation-wide meetings and manifestations in support of overthrown
authorities is expected. In
this situation existing authorities consider stopping of publishing of main oppositional newspaper
as the most effective measure to keep public tranquillity in the
republic. So, everybody sees
his own way out of situation.
Press-Service
of The Parliament of Georgia; August 7th, 1993 Shevardnadze's regime threats Prof. E.Javelidze
Persecution of free press is continued in Georgia As it is well-known, illegal regime of
Georgia permanently suppresses freedom of press, few oppositional
newspapers (as a matter of fact, there are only two - "Iberia
Spektr" and "Sakartvelos Samreklo" ("Glockenspiel
of Georgia"), which are not underground) several times
have been subjected to pogroms and constantly experience pressure
and treats. There are also other, more screened obstacles. Lately "Sakartvelos
Samreklo" have been deprived possibility of publishing in
Tbilisi due to artificial "technical difficulties",
obviously due to the directions of illegal authorities. Recently illegal regime of Georgia has
launched an open attack against this weekly newspaper: the
editor-in-chief, famous scholar and writer, academician, professor
Elizbar Javelidze has been summoned by prosecutor Khizanishvili,
according to our information he is put on trial, and at the same
time campaign of his arrest demands has been started in the
junta-controlled mass-media sources, four times convicted criminal
Ioseliani, who is called the "vice-president" in
Georgia, several times threatened by TV Mr. Javelidze and
the editor-in-chief of "Iberia-Spektr" Mr. Gotsiridze. Such reaction of illegal authorities is
caused by publishing of objective materials from western press,
concerning situation in Georgia, especially from the well-known "Soviet
Analyst". Taking into account the nature and the
character of order which reigns in the structures of
"justice" in contemporary Georgia, professor Javelidze
is in danger and is forced to hide.
Regime Against
Journalists; 28 Jun. 1993 Press
service of Supreme Council of Georgia ...
Immediately after the coup, among others member of the legal
Parliament well known writer and journalist Irina Taliashvili
was beaten brutally, raped and put into prison. After release, her
persecution and discrimination continues. She has only one crime:
she is supporter of legal government, demands respect to the
principles of democracy and Human Rights. Deputy of the Minister of Culture Juletta
Mildiani was arrested and beaten (now she is unemployed); So
was mistreated in prison Anna Chavchavadze, journalist;
... Later on following women
were arrested for expressing their views and taking part in
demonstrations: Marika Abaishvili, chief editor of the
newspaper "Sakartvelos Respublika" ("Republic
Georgia"); Tamara Ebralidze, editor of the
newspaper "Tavisupali Sakartvelo" ("Free
Georgia"); Lia Beruashvili, editor of the
newspaper "Kartuli Azri" ("Georgian
Thought"). After
these facts You can judge, what kind of "freedom of
press" exists in Shevardnadze's Georgia, considering, that at
the same time Giorgi Gotsiridze, son of the well known
journalist, editor of the newspaper "Iberia Spectrum",
Irakli Gotsiridze, was hung by "unknown persons",
in the way to home after his visit to prosecutor's office.
... |
