Georgia

Georgia’s Interior Ministry has arrested two people for threatening and assaulting Adjara public broadcaster anchor Koba Fartenadze with a knife. The detentions follow an incident earlier in August, which Fartenadze later posted a video about, showing a man asking him to ‘follow him’, pointing to Fartenadze’s dyed blonde hair, and using a homophobic slur.

‘The investigation established that one of the detainees, accused of violence, physically assaulted a person in Batumi during an argument on 9 August. Shortly after the incident, the other detainee allegedly threatened to stab him with a knife,’ the ministry said on Tuesday.

The ministry added that the investigation was being conducted under charges of violence and threats. Both relevant articles provide for a fine, community service, house arrest, or up to one year in prison, while the one related to threats also provides for corrective labour.

Fartenadze wrote on Facebook that he faces similar incidents of violence and discrimination every night.

‘Every evening I am met by people who insult me, threaten me, and touch me physically. In recent days, there have been many incidents of attacks against me’, he wrote.

‘How many times do I have to be attacked before it is just an “incident”? How many times do I have to go to the police before someone thinks this is a systemic problem?’, he wrote.

‘I’m not asking for special treatment. I’m not asking to be above the law. I’m only asking for what any citizen deserves: safety, law enforcement, and justice’, Fartenadze added.

On Monday, the Charter of Journalistic Ethics called on the Interior Ministry to ‘urgently investigate the frequent attacks on journalist Koba Fartenadze and ensure his safety’.

‘Attacks put the journalist in a difficult emotional state and prevent him from doing his professional work’, the charter said.