Georgian journalist Kurdadze asks for asylum in Ukraine

Bondo Kurdadze, editor-in-chief of the Georgian newspaper "Chance", applied for political asylum to President of Ukraine Victor Yanukovich. In his letter to the Ukrainian leader Mr Kurdadze asserts that his family has been receiving telephone threats for a couple of recent days.

"I, the editor of the first independent Georgia's newspaper, became a derelict in my native land and was forced to leave it because of incessant blackmailing and threats to my family," runs his appeal to President of Ukraine Victor Yanukovich and leaders of Western countries. Editor Kurdadze has also poured his sharp criticism on Mikhail Saakashvili's government and his policy.

According to his story, he asks refuge for his family, whereas he wants to return to Georgia and to continue his struggle against the ruling authorities, as the "Rosbalt" reports.

The newspaper "Chance", where Bondo Kurdadze is the editor-in-chief is, is published since 1989.

Meanwhile, the IA "Trend" quotes the opinion of Iya Antadze, an observer of the Tbilisi bureau of Radio Liberty, who was at a loss to tell, for what reason could the authorities persecute Kurdadze, for she had never seen a project created by the journalist and unacceptable for Georgian leaders.