Intrusion into Imedi
Tbilisi, Georgia, Nov. 7 - The TV channel “IMEDI” that is of a very high rating TV channels in the Georgian media market, was closed at about 20:45. The information about that was highlighted by “IMEDI” itself during the information program “Cronika” that was led by Levan Javakhishvili and Sopo Mosidze. Later on the chairman of information service center of “IMEDI”, Giorgi Targamadze took place of the journalists and made an announcement that the office of “IMEDI” is surrounded by armed forces in masks. Giorgi Targamadze added that they are coming into different departments of “IMEDI” Office forcedly making journalists and guests lay down on the floor. A minute later the studio of “Cronika” was intruded, and Giorgi Targamadze’s last words from the TV were encouraging and assuring viewers that everything will be ok.
The Managing Director of “IMEDI”, Bidzina Baratashvili, declares that there is a pregnant woman among journalists and students in “IMEDI” office garden, but he does not make any kind of comments about the incident, yet.
The population of Georgia, living in the nearby territory of Dighomi was aggregated at the entrance of “IMEDI” office. Police trying to make people leave the territory bit several of them. Later on, gas was used to make people leave the territory. Journalists were making comments and expressing their anxiety.
At 22:34 the Prime Minister of Georgia, Zurab Nogaideli announced that during several days the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi will be under the state of emergency, and that the working process of the TV channels will be renewed as soon as the state of emergency finishes, the same information was confirmed by the mayor of Tbilisi, Gigi Ugulava.
Different political party representatives evaluate the process differently.
Anyway civilized and democratic countries know that the medium between public and the surrounding world is objective Mass Media that is the guarantee of Democracy in the country.