OSCE Media Freedom Representative calls on Gov’t ‘to promptly investigate all incidents involving journalists’
32 journalists received injuries during the June 20 demonstration in Tbilisi, many of them were shot by rubber bullet shots, the Georgian Charter of Journalist Ethics said on June 21. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir denounced “the violent incidents and mistreatment of media workers” during the June 20’s demonstration in Tbilisi, saying that “journalists’ safety must be ensured at all times”.
Désir called on the Georgian authorities “to promptly investigate all incidents involving journalists and bring all those responsible to account under the law”.
He also called for “urgent measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, by the authorities engaging with media organisations on best practices to ensure journalists’ safety during demonstrations.”
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović has called on "all sides" of the clashes in Tbilisi to "resolve any controversies through peaceful dialogue" after the confrontation left 240 individuals injured on Thursday night.
32 journalists received injuries during the June 20 demonstration in Tbilisi, many of them were shot by rubber bullet shots, the Georgian Charter of Journalist Ethics said earlier today.
240 individuals were hospitalised after yesterday’s rally in Tbilisi, many of them with minor injuries, 80 were law enforcers, Deputy Health Minister Zaza Bokhua stated earlier today while visiting patients at the Ingorokva Clinic in Tbilisi.
The Healthcare Ministry has reported that 17 civilians and 38 police officers have been injured after in a late night clash in front of the parliament of Georgia as law enforcers used tear gas and rubber bullets to prevent the protesters from entering the building. The protesters were leaving the demonstration after the clash but soon they returned and continued rallying.
The peaceful demonstration in front of the parliament of Georgia in central Tbilisi will resume at 7 p.m. today. Protesters made their feelings about Russian president Vladimir Putin known on the Rustaveli Avenue on Friday, as a younger crowd gathered on the street on the second day of demonstrations.
Thirteen people remain hospitalized out of the 240 who were injured during June 20 Tbilisi protests. Head of Emergency Management Center of Georgia Avtandil Talakvadze said two of the injured are in intensive care department.
EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell has made his first comments regarding June 20 events and following rallies in Tbilisi, praising the offer of the Georgian Dream ruling party on elections and urged the investigation of rally dispersal in central Tbilisi last week.
Ambassadors of the European Union, Lithuania, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands to Georgia are urging for a transparent investigation into the police response to the June 20 rallies in Tbilisi.