11:00, 10 May 2010

Georgia: fighters at "Kavkasiya" TV channel get 2 months of pre-trial custody

The Tbilisi City Court has ruled to punish seven participants of the incident in the premises of the "Kavkasiya" TV Channel that happened in the evening on May 7 by two months of pre-trial custody.

To detainees faced charges under two articles: "preventing journalists in performing their professional duties" and "hooliganism". Imprisonment under the latter may last from two to five years.

As reported by the "Echo of the Caucasus" Radio, the members of the "Union of Orthodox Parents", who were present at the trial, said that their comrades had been detained only on the basis of evidences presented by "Kavkasiya" employees, which, in their opinion, cannot be the proof of their guilt.

In total, eight persons were detained during the incident at the "Kavkasiya", namely: Levan Chachua, Avto Zumbadze, Levan Turashvili, David Shalamberidze, Georgi Gabedava, Rati Maisuradze, Shota Apkhaidze and Zviad Bliadze. Levan Turashvili was released on May 9, as the "Georgia Online" reports.