In Georgia, inspectors interrogate witnesses on journalist Dzhobenadze's complaint

The criminal case under the complaint of blackmail submitted by Tedo Dzhobenadze, a journalist of the Batumi-based newspaper "Batumelebi", was initiated by Prosecutor's Office Adzharia on February 18, and is now run by inspector Gela Makharadze. According to Eteri Turadze, editor-in-chief of the newspaper, so far only her and the owner of newspaper Mziya Amaglobeli were interrogated as witnesses.

The inspector who runs the case told that he was leaving the country for a while, but when he comes back, after Dzhobenadze's recovery, who is now sick, he would interrogate him first as a witness, and then, if attributes of blackmail are revealed, Dzhobenadze will be recognized to be a victim. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent learnt about it from Ms Turadze.

According to her version, approximately in early March the inspector will come to Batumi and renew the inquiry. Mr Dzhobenadze himself was out of contact.

On December 24, 2009, the newspaper's editorial board addressed the Prosecutor's Office of Adzharia with an official request to inform about the steps taken in response of their demand to initiate a criminal case on the fact of blackmailing the journalist. "We were told only that the MIA's General Inspection holds the inquiry," Eteri Turadze told then.

The "Caucasian Knot" reported with reference to the newspaper's version that in November 2009 employees of the department of special operations of the Adzharian MIA tried to persuade Tedo Dzhobenadze to cooperation. Journalists say that to achieve their aim, agents blackmailed him with forged photos, showing his non-traditional sexual orientation.