Here is the statement from a Norwegian Jounalist - a mutual friend and this may help clarify what happened to him and the possible motivation. This is not an isolated incident and such things have been common since 2003.

“At around 22:00 on Friday 19. June 2009 there was a knock on the door, and when I opened it, I saw four or five men with black masks. The one in front pointed a gun at my face. I grabbed the gun and we fought over it while the other attackers forced their way in through the door and pushed me through the corridor and into the kitchen. I got control over the pistol for a short time, maybe ten seconds. They forced me to the floor facing down, and the pistol landed on the floor beside me. Then I noticed that one of them was pointint at me with another pistol. I shouted “help, help”, as there is a ventilation shaft through which our neighbours might hear me, and one of them understands English. Then one of them placed his hand over my nose and mouth so I couldn’t breathe. He was wearing black gloves, as several of the others. He banged my face into the floor with the hand covering my face. One of them brought out a broad adhesive tape, apparantly to gag me with it, but didn’t apply the tape. Then, about five minutes after they had entered the apartment, they left it, slowly, waving their guns around towards me. Afterwards I discovered that they had taken my mobile phone and my bag, which contained a digital camera, a dictaphone, my wallet with a little cash and two Visa cards. I don’t think they searched the apartment, and it bore no signs of it. A glaring green money bag (the kind tourists wear around theyr neck underneath their clothes) lay on the table three meters from the entrance, in plain view. They had not taken it.

Six months ago someone took my camera on the road in the same area. I want to clarify that I do not think there is enough evidence at the current moment to say whether the attack 19. June was thieves who were after my camera or an attack against me because of my work as a journalist. But my first reaction was that it was the latter. If so, I think it is too early to speculate in what the reason could be, since I have not been involved in any investigations which could explain such a violent attack.”

He shared some more commentary with the Human Rights Center. The Norwegian journalist thinks that the attackers did not want to rob him. Skre thinks that it could be connected with his journalistic activities. He has information that production of biological weapons is planned in Georgia. He is carrying out journalistic investigation regarding the fact though he does not have any evidence yet.

“Even if the production of biological weapon does not start in Georgia, the government does not appreciate to expose the information that there is reserve of biological bacteria in the country,” said Skre.

http://www.humanrig hts.ge/index. php?a=article& id=3866&lang= en

“Economical crisis”??? Georgia does not have economical system, how can we have the crisis? They use terminologies and people do not understand them, and some people still believe that our president is hero and it is very difficult to talk to these kind of people. I don’t know what will do our opposition but I can say that only America can stop him. The first step is now complete to change the US Ambassador who supported this party of war and corruption. John Tefft gave the green light for human rights violations.

The German News Magazine “Der Spiegel” in today’s edition (25/2009) published a two page article under the heading “Zerschmetterter Traum” (”smashed dream”) which reflects on the work of IIFFMCG in a largely speculative and unsubstantiated way. In this context I would like to state the following:

The Spiegel’s article is not based on information provided by the Head of IIFFMCG, Ambassador Tagliavini, or any other authorized sources. On behalf of IIFFMCG there has been no interview, background briefing or any other way of communication in order to provide information for the article.

The article’s contents on the findings of the Mission are entirely factious as regards the so-called majority views among Mission’s members relating to the alleged responsibility for the outbreak of hostilities or the alleged violation by either side of the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilians.

The report which shall be presented to the EU Council of Ministers by 31 July 2009 comes under the sole and exclusive responsibility of Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini, and not under the responsibility of the Mission’s experts or the majority of its experts. All experts’ opinions are subject to the approval by the Head of Mission before being included in the Report, and not any of the contributions can be considered by itself as representing the Mission’s findings.

Contrary to the allegations referred to in the article, there is not and has never been any reluctance or unwillingness on behalf of IIFFMCG to interview senior U.S. diplomats such as former Assistant Secretary for Europe Daniel Fried on America’s role in the conflict. Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried was interviewed by Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini and her deputy former German Ambassador Uwe Schramm at the State Department in Washington on 14 May, together with other senior members of the U.S. administration such as Deputy Assistant Secretary Matt Bryza and others. U.S. Ambassador John Tefft had been spoken to already on several previous occasions.

The work of IIFFMCG is continuing. Until the process of collecting and evaluating of all relevant facts has been completed, no final conclusions will be drawn.

Heidi Tagliavini
Ambassador and Head of Mission