Gachechiladze to sue President of Georgia

Leval Gachechiladze, leader of the oppositional public movement "Defend Georgia", prepares an action against President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili in the context of the scandalous TV programme "Chronicle" broadcast by the "Imedi" TV Company. The report showed a simulated invasion of Russian troops and assassination of the President.

Gachechiladze says that the programme was prepared in coordination with the President and was put on air upon his permit; this is indirectly confirmed by the fact that the leader of the movement "Defend Georgia" himself, his colleagues and some other oppositionists were presented in the report as homeland traitors. Now, he is accusing the "Imedi" and personally Saakashvili of an encroachment on his honour and dignity, the "Komsomolskaya Pravda" writes.

"Gachechiladze prepares his claim against President Mikhail Saakashvili in the context of the hoaxed 'Imedi' programme. Now, his lawyer drafts the claim, and its details will be known later," the "Gazeta.Ru" quotes the press service of the "Defend Georgia".

On April 6, President Saakashvili said in his interview to the Ukrainian "InvestGazeta" that there were no orders to journalists from the authorities and gave his opinion concerning the scandalous report.

"I had already spoken that it really reflects plans of Putin's aggressive retinue and Putin himself. And it is very similar to a realistic scenario. But I had also explained why these scenarios are doomed to fail. The fact that our population took it so seriously means that people perfectly know that such plans exist; and it's no secret," said Saakashvili.

"It's not an invasion of creatures from outer space; it's the force, which was already present in the Georgian territory and which doesn't like our government and wouldn't perceive the idea of Georgia's independence. This force views our country as a harmful and dangerous phenomenon and wants to control the power transit to the countries of the Caspian region and in all other directions. I have no doubts that they build such plans, but - on the other hand - their hands are obviously too short for the purpose," the Georgian leader asserts.

When panic burst out in Georgia, messages arrived about several citizens who died from heart attacks, because they took the Russian invasion as reality. "There were no deaths. It's full nonsense," said Saakashvili.

At the same time he agreed that the viewers "not only should have been warned about simulated events, but captions should have been placed over the picture."

Some time earlier, President of Georgia toughly criticized presentation of the Georgian army in negative context. "The report contained unfair reference to the Georgian army which had demonstrated unbelievable courage during the August war. We need to be careful with the army - it's the basis of the Georgian state," the President has emphasized.