Georgia: CFWIJ condemns the threatening attack on Darina Kamadadze

October 31, 2020- Darina Kamadadze, a correspondent for On.ge was threatened by a member of European Georgia on the day of the election. Darina was covering polling station 14 in the village of Azizkendi, Marneuli where she spotted an armed man. They made the gun hidden under his coat. When Darina inquired about the weapon, he said that it was a phone. When Darina tried to record him on camera, the armed man hit the camera and threatened her to stop recording. CFWIJ condemns the violence towards the journalist and asks European Georgia to explain this on behalf of their observers. We also demand law enforcement authorities in Georgia apprehend the culprit and investigate the matter. 

Darina was covering election day in polling station number 14, in Azizkendi, Marneuli when she noticed some suspicious activity from a man. The person asked her which organization she works for as Darina was taking photos in the polling station. He had the observer’s certificate issued by CEC under his coat. That is when Darian realized that he also had a weapon hidden in his coat. The journalist inquired the man why he was roaming around with a weapon, to which he said it was his gun. Later Darina saw the same man in a different coat and he denied having a gun and said it was a phone. 

Reportedly the armed man belonged to the European Georgia as confirmed by one of the party representatives, Ahmad Imamkuliev. But he denied that the man had a gun. When Darina tried to record the armed man, he threatened her. He frowned upon her and said, “do not take pictures, I swear, my brain will not work, my nerves are already gone” and then he hit the camera. The Coalition for Media Advocacy stated the incident, saying, “ We call on law enforcement agencies to protect the safety of journalists and to ensure an immediate investigation into the interference in journalism and attacks on journalists. We also call on the ruling party to take a clear stand on media inviolability.”

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the threats towards Darina Kamadadze Election authorities and law enforcement must investigate this also how an armed man was allowed in a polling station. We extend our full support to Darina who stood brave while reporting on a tough situation in the field.