At the same time, on 6 am, Evgeny Jokhidze deputy editor of Tribuna (independent daily newspaper) was detained by 5 armed person identified as policemen. They rushed into his house for search. Later they left his flat.

Its clear that this fact is connected with the interview of Movladi Udugov, Head of Informational Department of Chechnia, wich was published in `Tribuna' yesterday. As Russian media reported today, operation in Tbilisi started after Udugov gave an interview to Tribuna.

In interview to tribuna, Movladi Udugov said that Georgian Government must be careful becouse of decision to extradate chechens to Russia.

Today, on 10 am reporters of Georgian independent TV company CAUCASIA were bitten by police bacouse they recorded comments of detained chechens.

1 week ago, Georgian Times newspaper proposed to Kavkaz-Center Chechen informational agency place their site ( former kavkaz.org) on Georgian Times web-site ( www.geotimes.ge ) after Authorities of several countries closed it.

Independent Association of Georgian Journalists protests today's occurrence and demanded from representatives of Internal Ministry guaranties of safety. We are seriously thinking that Government are planing to detain or liquidate some of the reporters working on chechen issues.

"It is clear tha today's operation is the repression not only against Chechens but the independent media" - stated IAGJ today.

We ask your interference,

Reccomended action: send letter of protest to: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
listsrv@mfa.gov.ge + 995 32 98 93 44

or contact PR Dep: + 995 77 46 08 37 Mr. Kaxa Sikharulidze,
Press-center of Georgian President : office@presidpress.gov.ge
or phone/fax: +995 32 99 49 50 +995 32 99 96 53 , +995 32 98 72 62 , + 995 32 99 99 50

Public defender of Georgia:
Mobile: + 995 99 18 01 33
Zviad Pochkhua
President of Independent Association of Georgian Journalist
Chief editor of Georgian Times and Daily Tribuna
+995 32 93 10 25 +995 32 99 60 97 37 Gorgasali ave, Tbilisi, Georgia