Representatives of Kakheti region media accuse acting Gamgebeli of Gurjaani district Akaki Sikharulidze of pressuring and threatening journalists. The journalists were outraged by Sikharulidze’s statement accusing some media representatives of corruption and demanding limiting of their attendance of local administration sessions. Later, Sikharulidze specified that his statements were targeted at editor of Imedi newspaper Gela Mtivlishvili.

The scandal evolved into a peaceful rally of journalists staged in front of Gurjaani administration on November 17. They accused Sikharulidze of ignoring Georgia’s Freedom of Information legislation by demanding to limit attendance of Gamgeoba sessions, a statement issued jointly by newspapers Kakhetis Khma and Speqtri as well as Radio Hereti.

The journalists also publicized number of cases of breaching freedom of information by the local administration and presented General Administrative Code as a gift to Mr. Sikharulidze.

As a result, Mr. Sikharulidze made public apology and promised constructive cooperation with the media.

Mtivlishvili, in turn, says he intends to file a defamation suit against the Gamgebeli.

Based on Interpressnews reports