On September 13, 2012 Eliso Janashia, Editor of the online edition TSpress.ge and journalist Iza Salakaia were visiting the Poti Church under construction for an interview. They were not allowed to film by Archbishop Grigol and other clergymen.

According to Eliso Janashia, the clergymen abused her physically and verbally, forcefully seized her camera and threw it on the ground. The journalist’s claims about disruption of her work and damage of property are confirmed by a video footage. It is further noteworthy that in a written response the clergyman rejects allegations and puts the blame on the journalist.

Freedom of expression, one of the pillars of a democratic society, entails the right to receive and impart information. Asking questions is one of the forms of receiving information for a journalist.

We believe that both secular people and clergymen should take into account and respect profession of a journalist and its role in a democratic society.

GYLA’s Medial Legal Defense Center notes that illegal disruption of journalistic reporting is unacceptable.