Press Scanner
Tuesday, November 13
Prepared by Diana Dundua
“Council of Europe chief meets with heads of Imedi TV and Kavkasia”
On November 10, Representative of the Council of Europe for Georgia Igor Gaon met with representatives of the two TV stations, Imedi and Kavkasia, which were shut down by the government as the Tbilisi protests were broken up, according to Akhali Taoba.
Imedi TV representative Giorgi Targamadze said no official documentation has been presented to the station management to explain why spetsnaz [special forces troops] raided the station on November 7.
He added that the main aim of the spetsnaz was not only to terrorize the journalists but to destroy the TV channel itself.
“The spetsnaz partly achieved their goal [of shutting down the station] but our journalists are ready to start working with double enthusiasm as soon as this is technically possible,” Targamadze said.
He also said that Imedi TV staff are currently being prevented from entering the building by spetsnaz.
“The exact amount of the damage is not known as we have not been allowed inside to see. But I can say it will be in the millions of GEL,” Targamadze commented.
He also said that Imedi TV’s Western partners including News Corporation have expressed their alarm at the situation.
“I am leaving for London to make a report about the current situation at the News Corporation head office,” Targamadze said.
He added that if the station is not up and running before presidential elections in January they would be undemocratic and non-transparent.
“Kartlos Garibashvili to run for presidency again?”
Lawyers of Georgia party leader Kartlos Garibashvili has not decided whether to run for the presidency yet, according to Akhali Taoba.
He said he is waiting for the exact date of elections to be confirmed.
Garibashvili added if he does take part, he is sure he will win.
“If I do not take part in the elections I will vote for a decent candidate by all means,” explained Garibashvili, adding he did not side with the government nor the opposition leaders during the recent protest.
Note: Kartlos Garibashvili has run for president three times: in 1995, 2000 and in 2004.
“OSCE chairman sends special representative to Georgia”
Sakartvelos Respublika reports that OSCE Chairman Miguel Angel Moratinos sent his own special representative, Josep Borel Fonteles to Georgia to oversee the dialogue between the government and political opposition.
Moratinos welcomed President Mikheil Saakashvili’s decision to hold presidential elections on January 5.
On November 10, Representative of the Council of Europe for Georgia Igor Gaon met with representatives of the two TV stations, Imedi and Kavkasia, which were shut down by the government as the Tbilisi protests were broken up, according to Akhali Taoba.
Imedi TV representative Giorgi Targamadze said no official documentation has been presented to the station management to explain why spetsnaz [special forces troops] raided the station on November 7.
He added that the main aim of the spetsnaz was not only to terrorize the journalists but to destroy the TV channel itself.
“The spetsnaz partly achieved their goal [of shutting down the station] but our journalists are ready to start working with double enthusiasm as soon as this is technically possible,” Targamadze said.
He also said that Imedi TV staff are currently being prevented from entering the building by spetsnaz.
“The exact amount of the damage is not known as we have not been allowed inside to see. But I can say it will be in the millions of GEL,” Targamadze commented.
He also said that Imedi TV’s Western partners including News Corporation have expressed their alarm at the situation.
“I am leaving for London to make a report about the current situation at the News Corporation head office,” Targamadze said.
He added that if the station is not up and running before presidential elections in January they would be undemocratic and non-transparent.
“Kartlos Garibashvili to run for presidency again?”
Lawyers of Georgia party leader Kartlos Garibashvili has not decided whether to run for the presidency yet, according to Akhali Taoba.
He said he is waiting for the exact date of elections to be confirmed.
Garibashvili added if he does take part, he is sure he will win.
“If I do not take part in the elections I will vote for a decent candidate by all means,” explained Garibashvili, adding he did not side with the government nor the opposition leaders during the recent protest.
Note: Kartlos Garibashvili has run for president three times: in 1995, 2000 and in 2004.
“OSCE chairman sends special representative to Georgia”
Sakartvelos Respublika reports that OSCE Chairman Miguel Angel Moratinos sent his own special representative, Josep Borel Fonteles to Georgia to oversee the dialogue between the government and political opposition.
Moratinos welcomed President Mikheil Saakashvili’s decision to hold presidential elections on January 5.