8 more people arrested for assaulting journalists, damaging Tbilisi Pride office on July 5

A total of 15 people have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the violent events of July 5. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

Agenda.ge, 08 Jul 2021 - 14:15, Tbilisi,Georgia

Five more people have been arrested for group violence, persecution and assault of journalists and three people have been detained for damaging the office of Tbilisi Pride during a right-wing counter rally on July 5. 

The investigation established that on July 5, during a rally against Tbilisi Pride on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, two defendants physically and verbally assaulted a journalist and a cameraman of TV Pirveli channel while on duty in the office of the Shame movement,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced. 

Three other defendants were detained for verbal and physical assault of TV Pirveli cameraman and photographer of the news agency Interpressnews. 

All three are charged with unlawful interference with journalistic activities, harassment and group violence,” the official statement says. 

Police say three defendants illegally entered the balcony of the office of Tbilisi Pride, ‘which was followed by violence, raid and damage/destruction of others’ property.’

The crime is punishable by two to six years of imprisonment.  

Eight of the detainees are already in court facing charges, while five more were arraigned earlier today. 

Three of the 32 detainees from the rally of July 6 were fined for administrative violation, the maximum fine of which is 3,500 GEL (about $1,107/€934).

A total of 15 people have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the violent events of July 5. 

The scheduled ‘March of Dignity’ by Tbilisi Pride was cancelled on July 5 due to fears of continued violence from right-wing counter protesters.

A total of 53 journalists were injured at the counter rally on July 5.