TBILISI, DFWatch — US Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland says that when a director of a TV company is detained, it naturally raises questions.
Norland on Thursday held a closed meeting with Prison Minister Sozar Subari. After the meeting he commented on the recent detention of former Energy Minister Alexandre Khetaguri and Nika Gvaramia, who was recently appointed as director of Rustavi 2 TV, but earlier held several top posts in Saakashvili’s government.
“According to information in the media, this detention is linked to his financial activity in the private sector, thus it’s important to provide for the rule of law and proper implementation of due process”, Norland said.
Meanwhile on Thursday, the National Movement, which has started a boycott of parliament, held a protest rally in Tbilisi to support Alexandre Khetaguri and Nika Gvaramia.
“Those who think we will disappear, will be disappointed,” former parliament speaker Davit Bakradze said at the rally outside the main police station in Tbilisi.
He said that the goal of the rally is to protest against the detention of a director of an ‘independent TV station’ after first interrogating him as if he was a crook.
The next rally will be held at Tbilisi City Court, UNM members said today.
I do not believe that it is appriate for Ambassador Norland to comment on every action by judicial authroities as he has decided to do recently. He is neither proconsul, nor is he the moral judge for Georgia. Let him stick to his own job of protecting American interests and stop telling people how to live their lives in Georgia. By the way, I do not recall one word from him or his precedessors criticzing the vruel and illegal behavior of the Saakashvili government AF