Reporters Call on UN to Facilitate Release of Detained Journalist

A group of Georgian journalist protested outside the Tbilisi office of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) against what they see as UNOMIG’s failure to secure the release of a detained colleague.

Mze TV journalist Malkhaz Basilaia, along with two other Georgian citizens, was arrested by Abkhaz militia on February 26. They are charged with “illegally crossing the Abkhaz border.” 

“The UN has done nothing to secure the release of our colleague. We call on them to immediately help in releasing the journalist,” Giorgi Kepuladze, a Rustavi 2 TV reporter, said.

Those in attendance were mostly from Rustavi 2 TV, the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) and Mze TV. A similar rally was also held outside the UNOMIG office in Zugdidi.

Mze TV has also called on the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative to Georgia, Jean Arnault, to facilitate the journalist’s release.