A group of Georgian journalists urged their Abkhaz colleagues to call on the Abkhaz authorities to release Tbilisi-based Mze TV reporter Malkhaz Basilaia, arrested on February 26.
“We, in a professional capacity, have always tried to foster a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” the appeal reads. “We, Georgian journalists, will never support initiatives to resolve the conflict through military means… Malkhaz Basilaia went to Gali district [of breakaway Abkhazia, where he was arrested] with a similar attitude.”
The appeal is signed by television stations: Mze; Rustavi 2; Georgian Public Broadcaster; Adjara TV; production studio Primetime; newspapers: Alia; Georgian Times; Rezonansi; news agencies: Prveli; Media News; Prime News; Novosti Gruzya; radio stations: Imedi; Fortuna; Mtsvane Talga (Green Wave).
Malkhaz Basilaia was arrested along with two other Georgian citizens – Davit Tsotsoria and Maia Danelia. The latter was released on March 1. Tsotsoria and Basilaia, who have been charged with “illegall crossing the Abkhaz border,” remain in custody in Sokhumi pending trial, which according to the Abkhaz prosecutor’s office, is expected within a month.
