Six journalists and members of the opposition movement Defend Georgia have complained to the office of human rights ombudsman Giorgi Tughushi after being fined for an altercation during a visit by President Mikheil Saakashvili last week, RFE/RL's Georgian Service reports.
The journalists said members of Saakashvili's bodyguard forcibly prevented them from filming a meeting between Saakashvili and local officials when he visited the west Georgian town of Zugdidi on December 31.
They added that a camera was confiscated from one journalist.
The six were subsequently charged with verbally insulting Zugdidi Governor Aleksandre Kobalia and damaging his vehicle.
A local court fined them each 100 laris ($58.87).
The journalists reject the charges and plan to appeal the fines. They will also lodge a formal complaint against Saakashvili's bodyguards and local police.
The journalists said members of Saakashvili's bodyguard forcibly prevented them from filming a meeting between Saakashvili and local officials when he visited the west Georgian town of Zugdidi on December 31.
They added that a camera was confiscated from one journalist.
The six were subsequently charged with verbally insulting Zugdidi Governor Aleksandre Kobalia and damaging his vehicle.
A local court fined them each 100 laris ($58.87).
The journalists reject the charges and plan to appeal the fines. They will also lodge a formal complaint against Saakashvili's bodyguards and local police.