Batumelebi Issues Statement Condemning Arrest and Obstruction of Journalist Guram Murvanidze
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
The editorial team of Batumelebi has released a statement condemning the arrest of their journalist, Guram Murvanidze, and the blatant obstruction of his journalistic duties. They have called on citizens, supporters, and partners to stand against this violation of press freedom.
According to the statement, Murvanidze was arrested on January 12 at approximately 9:20 PM while covering a rally near the Constitutional Court in Batumi. He was subsequently transferred to the Poti pre-trial detention center and allowed to meet with his lawyer only at 6 AM the following morning.
The investigation is reportedly being conducted under Articles 166 (petty hooliganism) and 173 (disobedience to legal orders) of the Code of Administrative Offenses. However, Batumelebi's statement underscores that Murvanidze's narrative indicates deliberate interference with his journalistic activities.
As described in the statement, Murvanidze was filming police arrests at the rally when Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze allegedly demanded to know who was recording. After Murvanidze identified himself as a Batumelebi employee, Dgebuadze reportedly insulted him and ordered officers to confiscate his phone.
Murvanidze recounted that police officers tried to take his phone as he attempted to secure it. Despite resisting briefly, the phone was confiscated, and he was arrested without further resistance. Video footage confirms that Murvanidze did not resist arrest.
After his arrest, Murvanidze alleges he was verbally insulted and pressured to reveal his phone's password. The statement by Batumelebi highlights that the aggression from the police escalated after Murvanidze identified himself as their journalist.
The editorial team has called for a thorough investigation and urged the Special Investigation Service to hold those responsible accountable. They emphasized that this incident represents a direct attack on journalistic freedom and on Batumelebi as a publication.
