3 August 2001

Alert

IFJ concerned about journalist's murder and decision not to broadcast news programme


Incident details

George Sanaia



(IFJ/IFEX) - In a 3 August 2001 letter to Internal Affairs Minister Kakha Targamadze, the IFJ expressed deep concern about the assassination of investigative journalist George Sanaia in his apartment on 27 July.




In addition, the IFJ is concerned about the 1 July decision not to broadcast the programme "60 Minutes", particularly as the programme was about misappropriation of public funds within the Ministry of Health.

Recommended Action


Send appeals to the minister of internal affairs:
- calling on him to launch a thorough investigation into the murder of Sanaia and to ensure that those guilty are swiftly brought to justice
- reminding him that such attacks create an environment in which journalists practice self-censorship out of fear of being targeted
- noting that not allowing programmes such as "60 Minutes" to be broadcast will be seen as a deliberate attempt to prevent critical reporting and, as a result, a gross violation of everyone's right to "seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers," as guaranteed by Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- noting that press freedom is essential in any democracy, and that this includes journalists' right to freedom from the threat of being attacked in retribution for carrying out their profession
- urging him to do everything in his power to ensure the safety of journalists working in Georgia



Appeals To


APPEALS TO:

Kakha Targamadze
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Georgia
Fax: + 995 32 99 62 96 / 98 65 32

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.




For further information, contact the IFJ, International Press Center, Residence Palace 155, Rue de la Loi - Bloc C, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium, tel: +322 235 2200 or +322 235 22 01, fax: +322 235 22 19, e-mail: safety@ifj.org, Internet: http://www.ifj.org/




Source:

International Federation of Journalists
International Press Centre, Residence Palace
Bloc C, second floor, Rue de la Loi, 155
1040 Brussels
Belgium
Phone: +32 2 2352207
Fax: +32 2 2352219
 

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More on this case

Suspect convicted in television journalist's murder 11 July 2003 CPJ releases statement marking anniversary of television journalist's murder 25 July 2002 Police investigation launched into journalist's murder 30 July 2001 Television journalist Georgi Sanaia killed 27 July 2001

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