Reporter attacked at protest in Tbilisi against July 5 violence
IPN agency has reported its journalist as having been attacked ahead of Tuesday's protest outside the Parliament of Georgia. Photo via InterPressNews agency.
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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.
Social media users among those protesting the July 5 attacks on journalists and the Tbilisi Pride offices had posted screenshots from online chat groups suggesting some from the violent groups involved in Monday's actions were planning to counter the demonstration on Tuesday.
Political parties and independent citizens are preparing to formally begin their protest of Monday's events at 8pm local time in front of the parliament venue.
Three out of 11 right-wing activists detained on July 5 for attacking journalists will face criminal charges, while two detainees have been sentenced to three days of administrative detention.
State officials, current and former diplomats and media rights organisations have been reacting to the developments in Tbilisi on Monday, where a right-wing demonstration against a planned Tbilisi Pride march for queer rights attacked reporters gathered to cover the eventually cancelled event before also storming offices of Pride organisers.
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.
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.
Police have detained 100 activists of violent right-wing groups who shut down a ‘silent’ demonstration held outside the Parliament of Georgia yesterday to protest the violent events of July 5. "At this stage, 100 people have been detained. Of the detainees, 68 have been released…while 32 remain in temporary detention”, reports the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
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.
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.