Rustavi 2 TV Journalist at Center of Televised Brawl
A Rustavi 2 TV journalist was forced to cut short a live report on the opposition protest rally outside Parliament, when an unidentified man tried to attack her.
As journalist Tamar Bagashvili was reporting live amidst the protesters, a middle-aged man approached and started shouting angrily at her: “get out of here, get out.” The journalist then stopped her report, telling a studio anchor: “You see in what conditions we have to work.” The man then came even closer and tried to push her, but other protesters grabbed him and pulled him back. Pandemonium ensued with people pushing each other and screaming. Rustavi continued to broadcast with viewers able to see MP Levan Gachechiladze, the leader of the eight-party opposition coalition, and other opposition leaders moving towards the scene, trying to restore order.
“It is totally unacceptable to attack and pressurize journalists,” Paata Davitaia, the leader of On Our Own party, part of the eight-party coalition, told the protesters. “People are aggressive because of biased reporting by [Rustavi 2 and Mze TV] but it does not mean that we should harass journalists. We have complained to their bosses.”
Giorgi Khaindrava, an individual member of the eight-party coalition, blamed the authorities, alleging “provocateurs” were at work.
As the scene unfolded, Rustavi 2 TV’s studio anchor read out a statement on behalf of Rustavi 2 and Mze TV stations: “For the second day running, the TV crews of Rustavi 2 and Mze stations have been working with an opposition boycott hanging over them. This boycott has grown from insulting statements to an attack on a Mze reporter and damage to a video camera [on March 24]. We appeal to all shades in the political spectrum not to violate the standards of international conventions and to suspend pressure, physical and verbal insulting of journalists. Ultimatums and other similar behavior directed towards the media by politicians are absolutely unacceptable. We call on Georgian politicians to cease making political points at the expense of journalists. The confidence rating of the channel is defined by the viewers and not by the interests of a certain political group. We again call on all political forces to stop attacks against the media and to let journalists do their job.”
The eight-party opposition coalition and the New Rights Party announced on March 24 that they were boycotting Rustavi 2 and Mze TV stations, accusing them of biased reporting in favor of the authorities. They explained, however, that the boycott would not extend to live interviews. “We will not refuse live interviews with these stations. But unfortunately our pre-recorded interviews and comments are edited to such an extent that our opinions are distorted,” MP Kakha Kukava of the Conservative Party, said.
