Formula journalist Vakho Sanaia attacked, three people arrested
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Friday, February 26
The Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia issued a statement regarding the attack on the Formula TV journalist Vakho Sanaia and one of his relatives. As the statement of the agency reads, three people were arrested. Formula TV also made a statement, saying that the incident happened yesterday, on February 25.
“The investigation revealed that the accused, who were drunk, physically abused Formula TV journalist and his relative,” MIA statement reads.
Sanaia talked about the incident and said that he felt a direct aggression from the attackers towards critical media. He recalls that a rescue team was called to move the car due to icy roads, at which point, three people approached them. According to Sanaia, one of the three attackers was constantly ‘provoking’ and trying to ‘challenge’ him.
The newly elected Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, condemns the attack on journalist Vakho Sanaia. According to Gharibashvili, the response from the state will be adequate and the perpetrators will be held accountable according to the law.
According to Mamuka Mdinaradze, one of the leaders of the Georgian Dream, it does not matter if you like a person's professional activity, there is no justification for violence.
“Violance against anyone, especially if it is against a journalist, is categorically unacceptable,” reads the statement of Mdinaradze.
Transparency International Georgia has also issued a special statement about the case. TI strongly condemns the violent attack against Sanaia. They call on the authorities to effectively investigate the incident and punish those responsible to the full extent of the law.
“This incident is the result of the government's aggressive and hateful rhetoric against the critical media, journalists and people who hold different opinions. Accordingly, these actions encourage this kind of violence which endangers freedom of speech and expression,” reads the statement of TI.
The statement of TI also notes that the government has an obligation to ensure the safe working environment for journalists.
Public Defender of Georgia Nino Lomjaria said that the assault against Vakho Sanaia is extremely concerning and believes that the response from the authorities to such events should be strict. Public Defender's office called on the MIA to carry out an effective investigation and ensure adequate punishment of perpetrators.
The US Embassy in Tbilisi condemns the attack on journalist Vakho Sanaia and his family and calls on the authorities to fully investigate the case as well as other unsolved cases of violence against journalists.
