Right wing groups attack dozens of media representatives near parliament at Tbilisi Pride March counter rally
Police are trying to relocate journalists and cameramen from the area. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Right wing activists who had gathered on Rustaveli Avenue this morning to protest the Tbilisi Pride march scheduled for 6 p.m. later today attacked journalists and cameramen on the spot, injuring dozens of media representatives.
Among the injured media representatives there are eight from Rustavi 2, two journalists from TV Pirveli, and employees of On.ge, Tabula, Netgazeti, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and other media outlets.
Ambulance teams and law enforcers are mobilised on the spot. Photo from RFE/RL.
Managing editor at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Nino Japiashvili posted a photo of two injured RFE/RL journalists on her Facebook account.
Photo from Japiashvili.
Do not think the journalists were injured because they got in a clash and did not have the means to defend themselves. They were purposefully chased and beaten mercilessly. [Right wing activists] also purposefully broke their equipment", Japiashvili wrote in her post.
Human rights activist and a member of the movement Droa, Giorgi Gabriadze, posted on his Twitter account a video depicting scenes of the attack on journalists:
Attack on #journalists! This is the face of violent groups. No matter who you are just being abused. this bastard tried to kill journalists! @MIAofGeorgia what are you doing ??????????????#TbilisiPride21 @TbilisiPride pic.twitter.com/bq62kv1KVe
— Giorgi Gabriadze (@GiorgiGabriadz1) July 5, 2021
Two cameras of Rustavi 2 TV and two cameras of TV Pirveli as well as live broadcasting devices were damaged.
Photo from RFE/RL.
TV station First Channel reports that its operator injured during a rally was taken to New Hospitals and is currently undergoing a medical examination.
Also, a cameraman of Rustavi 2 is at Aladashvili's Clinic with a strong concussion.
Open Caucasus Media posted on Twitter that a TV Formula journalist Rati Tsverava was attacked by right wing activists near the Kashveti Church on Rustaveli Avenue and was dragged away in a headlock by Georgian Orthodox priests.
TV Formula journalist Rati Tsverava was attacked by anti-pride protesters near the Kashveti Church on Rustaveli Avenue. Tsverava was dragged away in a headlock by Georgian Orthodox priests. #TbilisiPride21
— OC Media (@OCMediaorg) July 5, 2021
⚡️Live updates: https://t.co/7zEZax7riP pic.twitter.com/Xw0y03HZ4t
Police are trying to relocate journalists and cameramen from the area.
It is not known at this time exactly how many journalists were injured during the coverage of the rally. Journalists say that the protesters showed 'special aggression' towards them.
The Georgian Patriarchate has reminded demonstrators protesting the Tbilisi Pride march today that their actions ‘must only be peaceful’ after demonstrators demolished tents on Rustaveli Avenue, threw eggs and bottles at several buildings, attacked journalists and broke into the Tbilisi Pride office.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili says that the conduct of the Tbilisi Pride march at 6 p.m. today ‘is not reasonable’ because it may lead to civic confrontation.’
Individuals protesting the Tbilisi Pride march scheduled for 6 p.m. later today are now gathering in central Tbilisi for a counter rally, following the calls of the Patriarchate and right-wing groups. Both sides say that there might be a clash and urge police to ensure safety. Right-wing activist Guram Palavandishvili has stated that the police may stand by the Tbilisi Pride participants which may irritate the public and spark tension.
The Georgian Patriarchate says the ‘drastic interference’ of foreign officials ‘in our public and spiritual life’ through supporting Tbilisi Pride events ‘is a matter of severe concern and [is] unacceptable’. The patriarchate has previously called on the members of the European Parliament and diplomats in Georgia to refrain from supporting and encouraging Tbilisi Pride.
Organisers of Tbilisi Pride march have announced their cancellation of the event on Monday, citing "shameful" comments by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and "inaction" from the interior ministry on ensuring safety for participants in the face of right-wing counter-demonstration in the capital.
NGOs and opposition politicians have stated that the inaction of the government and inflammatory statements by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili regarding the Tbilisi Pride march encourage violence by right-wing groups against civic activists and media representatives.
Twenty-one embassies and international organisations in Georgia have published a joint statement condemning violence in the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi, as well as the 'failure of the government leaders and religious officials' to condemn this violence.
The ruling Georgian Dream party says that ‘political interests’ and not the interests of the LGBT community stood behind today's Tbilisi Pride march.
Police are investigating an attack on the offices of Tbilisi Pride and the Shame movement by right-wing groups protesting the Tbilisi Pride march earlier today, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has announced. Civil movement Shame reported that no one was injured in the attack on their office.
Georgian TV channel Rustavi 2 will not cover events organised by right-wing groups starting today, amid the violence against journalists at the Tbilisi Pride march counter rally. The TV channel also calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to immediately investigate criminal offences against the employees of the TV station.
A polish journalist has been stabbed on Khetagurovi Street in Tbilisi, reports Formula TV.
TV channels Mtavari Arkhi, Formula and Pirveli have left Rustaveli Avenue following violence against the media by right-wing groups protesting Tbilisi Pride, heads of the TV stations announced earlier today. They released an emergency statement and condemned the violence against the media.
Ushangi Datunashvili and Irakli Tsignadze, accused of attacking TV Pirveli and Rustavi 2 cameramen at the Tbilisi Pride march counter rally on July 5, have been denied bail.
Georgian Public Advocate Nino Lomjaria has slammed the Georgian Dream government for an ‘ineffective management of the coronavirus pandemic’ and an ‘ineffective vaccination campaign’ which has resulted in ‘many deaths.’
Tbilisi City Court has sentenced Irakli Kavlashvili to two years in prison for attacking a Palitra News TV cameraman at a right-wing counter-rally organised against Tbilisi Pride on July 5 last year.
Tbilisi City Court has sentenced six individuals to up to two years in prison for attacking journalists and camera professionals of Mtavari Arkhi, Formula TV and Imedi TV channels at a right-wing counter-rally organised against Tbilisi Pride march on July 5, 2021.