Russian Ministry of External Affairs refused request made by Russian National Union of Journalists and International Federation of Journalists to issue a visa to the President of Independent Association of Georgian Journalists for participating in the event planned in Dagomys, Russia in September this year.According to the information given to IEPF by Independent Association of Georgian Journalists, the aim of the event supported by European Union, is to review recent attacks on journalists in Russia. Zviad Pochkhua , President of Independent Association of Georgian Journalists expressed concern of International Federation of Journalists connected with this issue: “ This decision proved again how difficult the situation in Russia in terms of freedom of speech is.
The situation with regard to the safety of journalists is especially alarming in the breakaway regions of Georgia, Abkhazia and former South Ossetia now controlled by Russian militaries. Movements of the Western journalists in these regions are restricted by the ministries of Defense and External Affairs of Russia. Georgian journalists are not allowed to enter these territories at all.”
Independent Association of Georgian Journalists appealed to the international organizations to put Russian Government under pressure to allow foreign and Georgian journalists move on the occupied territories freely and safely. It should be remembered that according to the official data of Independent Association of Georgian Journalists more than 300 journalists have been murdered in Russia since 1993. 7 journalists were assaulted during the last two years and all of these crimes were linked to the professional activities of the journalists.
Information Department of International
Eurasia Press Fund