On June 9, journalist of TV 25, Jaba Ananidze, publicized a telephone conversation between him and Medea Vasadze, a member of the Supreme Council of Adjara and the Chairperson of its Human Rights Committee. The conversation deals with an investigative documentary titled Highest Comfort, which was aired on TV 25 on June 8 and recounts the activities of both the Supreme Council of Adjara and concrete members of the Council.

After the documentary was aired, Medea Vasadze, a member of the Supreme Council of Adjara and the Chairperson of its Human Rights Committee, contacted the author of the program, Jaba Ananidze, accusing him of distorting the facts. In the recording, one can hear Medea Vasadze threatening the journalist with starting to ‘work against him’. In addition, the statement of Medea Vasadze that there are various opinions in the public regarding the journalist’s private life contains signs of an indirect threat. The member of the Supreme Council also confirms that she called on her colleagues in the Supreme Council to refrain from having close contacts with the journalist, because, in her words, the journalist would cover their interviews our of the context.

The audio recording reveals that Medea Vasadze corresponded with a representative of the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Adjara and is going to contact him again with regard to closing the investigation into an incident that took place between her and Diana Diasamidze. Such action may contain signs of a crime punishable by Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Georgia and may pose a threat to thorough, complete, and objective investigation into the case. It should be noted that the investigation into the beating of Diana Diasamidze was launched last year – she accuses MP Medea Vasadze of physical abuse. Medea Vasadze also confirms that several employees of the Supreme Council were given an opportunity to see personal correspondence in the official phone of Sofio Kobaladze, one more individual related to this case, without Kobaladze’s consent. Later this correspondence was publicized unlawfully in social network, though the investigation authorities have not established by what method the personal correspondence was disseminated.

TI Georgia calls upon representatives of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara to refrain from any interference in media activity and from making statements that contain threats to journalists. We also call on the Supreme Council of Adjara to discuss the incident and take a relevant decision.

It is also necessary that law enforcement bodies take statutory and relevant measures in connection with the incident. Due to the high public interest, we consider it necessary that the Prosecutor’s Office inform the public of the course and results of the investigation, as was the case last year in connection with both the beating of Diana Diasamidze and the pressure on and threatening statements about the journalist.