Interior Ministry names overdose as possible reason for TV Pirveli cameraman’s death
People pay tribute to the late cameraman in front of the parliament of Georgia. Photo: Agenda.ge
Tweet 
Share
The Georgian Interior Ministry has named drug overdose as a possible reason for the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava earlier today.
Head of the Central Criminal Police Mamuka Tchelidze told journalists at a news briefing that Lashkarava drove a moped to several locations in Tbilisi yesterday, including Ponitchala (one of the well-known districts of drug dealing in the outskirts of Tbilisi).
Tchelidze noted that he did not intend to mention Ponitchala among the locations that Lashkarava had visited with his friend, not to create any preliminary publicopinion over the reasons of his death.
A forensic medical examination, which has been scheduled today is still ongoing, this is why it will not be correct and professional when the investigation talks about [drug] overdose in advance”, Tchelide said.
He however confirmed that the drug overdose is one of the versions that the investigation alleges among the reasons behind the TV Pirveli cameraman’s death.
[The examination] will thoroughly study the immediate causes of death, the role of drugs in his death, if any, or any other possible consequences”, Tchelidze told journalists.
Police took Lekso Lashkarava’s body for a forensic examination to define the exact reason of his death without his family’s consent this morning, causing wide public outcry. An independent expert has been eventually allowed to get involved in the forensic examination.
- Protest scheduled for 6 p.m. today demanding PM’s resignation following TV Pirveli cameraman’s death
The investigation into Lashkarava’s death has started under the Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Georgia – ‘incitement to suicide’.
The Interior Ministry calls on his family and friends to ‘cooperate with the investigation’ and to hand over Lashkarava’s mobile phone ‘ as it may contain important information for the investigation’.
Georgian and foreign officials are saddened by news of the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava earlier today.
A protest rally will be held in front of the parliament building in downtown Tbilisi at 6 p. m. demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili after TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava was found dead earlier today.
TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, 36, was found dead at home this morning. Lashkarava was one of the 53 media representatives who were attacked by right-wing groups during the Tbilisi Pride counter rally on June 5.
Four more right-wing activists have been arrested for assault, persecution and group violence against journalists and cameramen during the Tbilisi Pride counter rally on July 5.
Following the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava earlier today, 19 NGOs have demanded the immediate resignation of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Vakhtang Gomelauri, due to ‘the severe consequences of the violence on July 5. TV Pirveli cameraman Lashkarava was attacked on July 5 by Tbilisi Pride counter protesters.
Foreign embassies in Georgia and international organisations have sent condolences to the Georgian public following the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was beaten up by Tbilisi Pride counter demonstrators on July 5.
Representatives of various media organisations have gathered in front of the building of the government administration on Ingorokva Street to pay tribute to TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was attacked on June 5 by a group of Tbilisi Pride counter rally protesters, and who died earlier today, presumably due to his injuries.
Journalists, civil activists and politicians have gathered in front of the parliament building in downtown Tbilisi to pay tribute to the late TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava and demand Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s resignation.
Right-wing businessman Levan Vasadze, who founded political movement Unity, Essence, Hope earlier in May, has blamed US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan for the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who had been previously beaten up by the right-wing counter protesters of the Tbilisi Pride march.
The Georgian ruling party has accused the opposition of ‘trading by tragedy’ following the death of the TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was found dead yesterday after being attacked by right-wing counter protesters of the Tbilisi Pride march on July 5. The head of the ruling party Irakli Kobakhidze said earlier today that the organisers of yesterday's rally, protesting the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, are the leaders of radical, anti-Christian groups, ‘who decided to score points on the death of the colleague.’
The Georgian Interior Ministry has provided more details to support its claim that TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was beaten severely at the July 5 Tbilisi pride counter rally, died due to a drug overdose.
Former US ambassadors to Georgia William Courtney and Kenneth Ialovich have responded to the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava and noted that the accusation of a drug overdose as the possible reason behind his death is a tactic used by autocratic governments. Lashkarava was violently attacked by right-wing counter protesters of the Tbilisi Pride march on July 5 and found dead at home later on July 11.
Reporters from Georgian outlets are holding a protest near Mtatsminda Park in Tbilisi with demands of repercussions for violent individuals who attacked media professionals in the capital on July 5.
The Georgian State Inspector’s Office has fined the country’s Interior Ministry 2,000 GEL for a violation of the personal data law by releasing footage from July 11, 2021 depicting the deceased cameraman of TV Pirveli Lekso Lashkarava.