SOS! To International Media Community

International Organization of Journalists, Brussels, Belgium
The International Federation of Journalists, Brussels, Belgium
The International Confederation of Journalists, Moscow, Russia
International Press Institute, Vienna, Austria
International Center for Foreign Journalist, London, UK
International Women's Media Foundation, Washington, USA
World Press Institute, St. Paul, USA
World Association of Newspapers, Paris, France
World Press Freedom Committee, Sunrise Valley, USA
Society of Professional Journalists, Indianapolis, USA
Committee to Protect Journalists, New York, USA
Reporters sans Frontieres, Paris, France
Besides, this message has been sent to more than 130 representatives of international media

Tbilisi, Georgia
SOS! To International Media Community

An open letter from the owner, publisher and a leader of The Georgian Times media holding and Editor-in-Chief of the Georgian edition of bilingual weekly newspaper The Georgian Times Nana Gagua to colleagues!
“When the iceberg in the ocean turns green”

My dear colleagues! Let me draw your attention to the dramatic situation of one journalistic family which lives in Tbilisi, Georgia. My husband, Malkhaz Gulashvili, and myself, Nana Gagua, are the owners and publishers of bilingual newspaper The Georgian Times, which has been published in the Georgian and English languages since 1993. I am also an editor-in-chief of this newspaper. The media holding also offers a trilingual website.

From its establishment until now the newspaper has been associated with the opposition, and is obviously very often in the midst of political and social battles. The newspaper's main content is politics, analysis, prognosis, social issues, interviews, and journalistic investigations. It was founded soon after the first President of Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, was removed. Subsequently Eduard Shevardnadze became President and now the country is run by the President Mikheil Saakashvili.

As media professionals you understand very well that such periods are generally characterised by mistakes, radicalism and thoughtless steps. It must also be noted that very often democratic principles, basic values and human rights are sacrificed for the sake of various ideas. My husband Malkhaz Gulashvili and I, and our young children, have been under extreme pressure for years. Although we share the Euro Atlantic integration aspirations of Georgia, we also remain loyal to our national values and traditions.

My husband Malkhaz Gulashvili and son David Gulashvili, who is an 11th form student, have been driven out of Georgia and are refugees in the Russian Federation. I would like to emphasise that they did not go there of their own will. Events have developed so rapidly over the last two months that I, as Editor-in-Chief of The Georgian Times newspaper, have been unable to write a letter to you about this issue, or even an editorial column. A group of people with anti-Georgian ideas, cannot forgive my husband for being the owner of the opposition newspaper The Georgian Times.

They cannot forgive his fight for a free media and freedom of expression, or the fact that for many years he has met many internationally famous journalists, politicians and even the Presidents of countries, meeting with the President of Russia, Dimitry Medvedev, some groups were completely shocked by seeing the scene, when Gulashvili shacked his hands with top official of the Russian Federation and this event remain as a top news on the Georgian governmental TV channels. They also could not forgive him his political and social activities, his religion belief and protection of the national values. This negative attitude toward my husband has also been expressed towards me and members of our family, which was expressed in
physiological and moral terror. We have received phone calls with negative messages and these calls are recorded by the police.

David, who is expelled together with his father, became a victim of psychological and physical terror (there was a car accident in which David was involved, “a meeting” with the bizarre police representatives). We were talking about these events. However, there was no reaction from the officials. There was a time, when “The Georgian Times” was closed in expressing its protest and announce one month “silent rally”. Even this time there was no reaction. Very often TV programmes have been broadcast simply to discredit my husband. Our newspaper has had to survive in much more restricted circumstances than the Government-owned publications and TV channels, unable to compete fairly.

My dear colleagues! The Georgian Times, from its first day, has only survived on the income from copy sales and advertisements. My husband and I have not accepted grants or other investments. However, both of us have been awarded the “Golden Wing” of the International Journalists Organisation. Many Georgian Government TV channels have opened and closed during this period, but The Georgian Times has remained, and intends to continue to do so.
Our journalists have to work in difficult conditions. None of us knows what will happen tomorrow, the only thing we know is that there must be a fresh issue each Monday. I personally, as Editor-in-Chief, have no right to think about my husband and son, who are predestined for imprisonment. They may be sentenced to 2-7 years in prison.

Due to this situation Malkhaz Gulashvili had no choice but to leave the country with our juvenile son, who was himself always being put under pressure as a result our professional activities by people who do not care about the image of the country. On the basis of the European Convention on Human Rights, which states that anyone can use any means to survive, my husband had to take a very difficult step. In the middle of the night he left Georgia through the occupied territories of the Tskhinvali region and fled to the nearest country - Russia, and then moved our son there as well. Today my husband and son are being persecuted for the illegal border crossing, though this border has not yet been demarcated or internationally recognised and there are no Georgian border guards there. My other 15-year old son and I remain in Tbilisi and we feel completely unsafe here.



This is why I am sending you this letter with the headline: “SOS!” I expect your support and hope that your democratic countries will tell the government of my country that it is unacceptable to play with the destiny of people only because my husband and son are expressing their free opinion and are real patriots of their country!

We await your support and responses and rely on your these in order to ensure that my husband and juvenile son are able to return to their country on a legal basis.


With great hope and respect,

Founder of The Georgian Times media holding, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Georgian edition newspaper,

Nana Gagua