ATA outraged with story about Javakheti on Georgian TV

The video "Javakheti - Mine-Studded Region" broadcast by the ITV Georgian channel has caused indignation of Assembly of Tbilisi Armenians (ATA). The programme told about Armenians' desire to capture the Javakheti region, and then - the rest of the country. A special briefing was held in Tbilisi, after which the broadcaster removed the controversial video away from its website.

The blog javakhk posted a statement addressed to Jose Manuel Barroso, Chairman of the European Commission, asking him to press on Georgia urging to grant autonomy to Javakheti region, inhabited by Armenians. The statement is also posted on the website petition.org, where any user can leave his or her signature.

The ITV Company has reacted to these statements by another video report, where, in its turn, referring to bloggers and video clips posted on the Youtube, it is outlined that Armenia plans in 2020 to capture the Georgian Javakheti region, and later - the whole of Georgia. The publication caused a negative reaction of the Assembly of Armenians of Tbilisi, which held a briefing on March 11 on inadmissibility of using hate speech in mass media.

Journalist Zviad Koridze, a professor of journalism at the Ivane Javakhishvili University, has noted that indeed the video story was poorly balanced.

"The woman-reporter failed to arrive in Akhalkalaki (district centre of Javakheti, - note of the "Caucasian Knot") and interview the local population. When preparing such materials, a journalist should spend not even a day, but two or three in the region to see what the mood really dominate among the people living there," said Mr Koridze.

Agit Mirzoev, Co-Chairman of the organization named "Multinational Georgia", said that the incompetent report has caused an outburst of ethnic hatred and use of hate speech.

"The authors made the material based on the source, the origin of which remains unclear. But beyond that, the very context surrounding the story is full of phrases that can give rise to ethnic hatred! Maybe it's time to develop some legal mechanism to regulate this issue, as it is the case in many countries," Mr Mirzoev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Besides, in his opinion, efforts should be undertaken towards better public education. "Elements of intercultural education should be introduced at the levels secondary, higher and vocational education and training," said Agit Mirzoev.

"I had no intention to offend anyone. I just did my job - informing the public about this statement, which appeared on the Internet," journalist Khatuna Katsitadze, the author of the video material, said at a meeting with the ATA activists.

"Yes, but your story presented the case in such a manner as if the letter was prepared by official representatives of the population of Javakheti, while it was only some anonymous blogger!" Irena Ogadzhanova, press secretary of the ATA, objected to her.

Ms Katsitadze promised to prepare a new report, which will present the views of the ATA. This point of view of the Assembly is that the publication in the blog does not reflect the situation in Samtskhe Javakheti and fails to reflect the views of either the local population in the region or the public organizations of Armenians in Georgia.

She fulfilled her promise and prepared a report presenting the position of Tbilisi Armenians. The story itself - "Javakheti - Mine-Studded Region" - was removed away from the ITV.ge website, together with all the comments in the forums, which contained calls to violence and words of abuse.

Still, as noted by many observers, the hate speech is less and less often used in Georgia; the "Caucasian Knot" was told about it by Koba Chopliani, Chairman of the Council for Ethnic Minorities under the local Ombudsman.

"We are not able to hold a special monitoring of all types of mass media; however, in recent years, manifestations of hate speech in newspapers and other printed media have decreased. With regard to Internet publications, blogs and forums, as far I know, there are many facts, when this speech is used together with expressions of hatred to various ethnic groups," he said.

Reports of international human rights organizations on Georgia are not accenting the topic of inter-ethnic relations, or fail to mention it whatsoever (for example, the reports of the Human Rights Watch or the Freedom House have no such point at all). However, as reported by Karen Elchyan, President of the Armenian Cooperation Centre, the most popular newspaper "Asaval Dasavali" about once a month places publications, which use the hate speech against Armenians.