Editor of opposition newspaper in Georgia accuses authorities of persecution

Nana Gagua who, together with her husband Malkhaz Gulashvili, is the owner and editor of the newspaper "Georgian Times" in Tbilisi, in her statement addressed to international organizations states that, due to opposition orientation of the newspaper, she, her husband and sons live under permanently extreme conditions.

According to Gagua, her husband and a 17-year-old son are now in Russia as refugees.

"The anti-national forces, which have become much stronger in this country, do not "forgive" my husband a lot of things, such as publication of the opposition newspaper "Georgian Times", freedom of speech, free thinking, meetings with world known journalists, political leaders, presidents, including the meeting with Russian president Dmitri Medvedev", runs the statement.

In her statement, Nana Gagua describes the persecution of her husband and states that now, Malkhaz Gulashvili and their son David Gulashvili are facing from two to seven years of prison for illegally crossing the border. Gagua states that she and her second son remain absolutely unprotected in Tbilisi and hope for the help of international organizations.

The statement is addressed to the International organization of journalists (Belgium, Brussels), International Federation of Journalists (Belgium, Brussels), International Conference of Journalists (Russia, Moscow), International Institute of Press (Austria, Vienna), International Center for Foreign Journalists (USA, Washington), World Institute of Press (USA), International Federation of Newspapers (France, Paris), World Committee for the Freedom of Press (USA), Society of Professional Journalists (USA), International Committee for the Protection of Journalists (USA, New York), "Reporters without Borders" (France, Paris).