Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics expresses concern over detention of journalists at May Day action

During the confrontation between students and the police that occurred on May 1 in Tbilisi on Rustaveli Avenue, law enforcement agents detained the journalists who worked at the place. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics has called on the police not to interfere with the work of the journalists and give explanations in connection with the incident. All the detainees were released by the evening of May 1, a representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) reports.

During the confrontation, Zviad Khudjadz, a reporter of the "Channel 9" TV Company, and Ani Chankotadze, a journalist of the magazine "Liberali" were detained, the "Georgia Online" reports.

The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics has issued a statement, in which it called on the policemen "to act within the law and not to interfere with the work of media representatives." The authors of the statement also demanded to explain to the public the legal basis for detention of the journalists.

"We urge the authorities to properly investigate possible facts of violation of the rights of the media representatives committed by the policemen," the "Ekho Kavkaza" (Echo of the Caucasus) quotes the statement as calling on.

By the evening of May 1, all journalists detained during the incident were released, the representative of the Georgian MIA reports.

"According to our information currently available, the participation of journalists in the action is not confirmed," the "Interpress News" quotes David Tsinaridze, the head of the patrol police department, as saying.