**Georgia Police Target Cameraman, International Partners Called In**
A cameraman working for Batumelebi online newspaper was allegedly targeted by police in the coastal city of Batumi. Guram Murvanidze was filming a protest at the local police department building on January 12 when he was arrested.
According to the newspaper, Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze asked Murvanidze to identify himself while filming. When the cameraman revealed his affiliation with Batumelebi, the police chief and officers became aggressive. They seized Murvanidze’s phone and verbally abused him.
The publication claims that the police actions were a deliberate attempt to obstruct Murvanidze’s journalistic activities and target the newspaper itself. The cameraman faces administrative charges of petty hooliganism and disobeying a lawful order.
**Previous Arrests by Police**
This is not the first time journalists from Batumelebi have faced pressure from the police. On January 11, the publication’s founder and director, Mzia Amaglobeli, was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer. She faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.
Amaglobeli also reported being ill-treated by the police after her arrest. The newspaper has called on international partners to address these violations of journalistic freedoms and ensure accountability for those responsible.
**Batumelebi’s History**
Batumelebi was founded in 2001 in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. It is one of the most respected publications in Georgia, along with its sister national online magazine Netgazeti. The newspaper has faced pressure and reprisals from the police before, but this incident has sparked a strong reaction.
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