A protest action of journalists passed off in Batumi

The journalists held an action of protest near the building of Central Election Committee of Adzharia in Batumi demanding to secure work of the press without limitations on the election day.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that according to a decision of Central Election Committee of Georgia adopted on September, 24, the journalists were allowed video filming only with the permission of chairperson of the committee. Besides, journalists can interview and receive comments from members of the committee only outside the buildings were polling stations are located.

The journalists are also prohibited video filming near the tables with electoral registers and inside the polling booths. Besides, if the camera is taken away from the polling station it cannot be brought to the same station again. During the first ten minutes videos can be shot in any spot and from any angle and then only from the area for the observers.

The participants of the action in Batumi demanded to cancel the decision of Central Election Committee. They declared that the mission of mass media to deliver information objectively and promptly would become unrealizable because of these severe limitations, "Georgia Online" reports.

The participants of the action also stated impossibility to register violations under the condition that the journalists would have a right to be present only in one polling station and in a specially assigned spot, news.ge reports.

On September, 25, the journalists of Tbilisi also held an action against this decision of CEC. About 30 persons took part in it.

Ex-television host, majoritarian nominee from "Christian-democratic movement" Inga Grigolia, withdrew her candidacy in Gldan district of Tbilisi as a sign of protest against the new regulations for mass media on the election day.