Media solidarity rallies held in Georgian regions following violent attacks against journalists
Right-wing groups attacking the Shame movement office on July 5 located behind the parliament building in central Tbilisi. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Journalists and media representatives in various regions of Georgia held media solidarity rallies earlier today following the violent attacks against journalists yesterday at the Tbilisi Pride march counter rally by right-wing groups.
Journalists from the Black Sea city of Batumi, Georgia’s western cities of Kutaisi and Zugdidi and the towns of Telavi and Gori protested and condemned the violence against journalists and called on the government to stop supporting and encouraging criminals.
“No to violence, let us work!” - under this slogan journalists, representatives of NGOs and opposition parties from Kutaisi protested violent attacks against journalists and the obstruction of their ability to perform their professional duties.
Civic activists and journalists from several other cities of Georgia also demanded a rapid investigation of the incidents and the punishment of the individuals responsible.
Rally of journalists in Batumi. Photo: Batumelebi.ge.
A silent rally will be held in front of the parliament on Rustaveli Avenue today at 8 p.m., the leader of the opposition party Girchi - More Freedom, Zurab Japaridze, announced earlier today.
It was a well-organised special operation conducted jointly by the government and the Patriarchate. What we saw yesterday is the darkness that hinders the progress of this country, the darkness that literally kills the future of our children”, said Japaridze.
The European Georgia opposition party and the political movement Droa will join the silent rally.
Right-wing groups attacked journalists and cameramen at the Tbilisi Pride march counter rally on Rustaveli Avenue yesterday.
53 journalists out of 55 people were injured.
Police are investigating the incidents. 11 people were detained for violence against journalists and for the attack on the offices of Tbilisi Pride and the Shame movement.
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has called everyone to refrain from violent attacks against 'adults, women, tourists' following today's demonstration of right-wing groups against LGBT people and their supporters.
Director of Tbilisi Pride Giorgi Tabagari says right-wing groups could not have mobilised their forces to disrupt pride events today without support from state.
Georgian president condemns violence during today’s events
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has released a statement following today's events in the capital city of Tbilisi in which she condemns the violence and persecution of people on the basis of difference of opinion, sexuality or gender identity.
A journalist has been attacked at a "silent" demonstration outside the Parliament of Georgia held to protest the violent events of July 5, InterPressNews agency has reported. IPN said an unidentified person from a group that interfered with journalists at the scene had attacked the agency's reporter. A "number of people" have been removed from the area by the police, the news agency said, however "tension" was still observed at the site of the protest.
Police have made arrests on Rustaveli Avenue in Georgia's capital, where a protest involving political opposition and independent citizens against the July 5 violence is being countered by a rally of right-wing groups involved in Monday's incidents against Tbilisi Pride organisers and reporters deployed to cover it.
Injuries to citizens and law enforcement have been reported from ongoing protests on Rustaveli Avenue as items including stones and pieces of iron rods have been observed thrown from violent right-wing counter-demonstrators. Participants of the peaceful protest against July 5 violent scenes have reportedly asked police to use riot units - located nearby according to law enforcement officers - against the violent groups whose attacks have left police professionals and citizens injured.
Violent right-wing groups took over the protest space outside the Parliament of Georgia and burned the European Union and LGBT flags, after the peaceful rally against violent events of the previous day, as well as media crews, were escorted by law enforcement away from Rustaveli Avenue.
Academy Award- and BAFTA-winning American filmmaker Spike Lee responded to a question at a Cannes Film Festival press conference about violent attacks on reporters and a queer event in Tbilisi this week by urging journalists to cover the developments.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has condemned violence against more than 50 journalists at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally on July 5 committed by right-wing protesters. He also underlined that all individuals will be identified and all guilty parties will be brought to justice.