NGOs demand immediate resignation of PM, MIA due to death of TV Pirveli cameraman
TV Pirveli cameraman Lashkarava was attacked on July 5 by Tbilisi Pride counter protesters. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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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.’
The political responsibility…lies with the government, which has in fact refused to perform its function to protect human health and life. Therefore, the undersigned organisations request at least: the immediate resignation of the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Vakhtang Gomelauri,” the statement says.
The undersigned organizations request at least immediate resignation of the PM @GharibashviliGe and @MIAofGeorgia Vakhtang Gomelauri. Bringing all organizers, participants, and instigators of violence, regardless of their status, to justice.https://t.co/Hzn6RuySOZ
— Transparency Int'l GE (@Transparency_GE) July 11, 2021
TV Pirveli cameraman Lashkarava was attacked on July 5 by Tbilisi Pride counter protesters.
The statement also says that the government didn’t ‘take measures to stop the violent groups’ and on the contrary, encouraged the violence with the statement of the PM that ‘holding the Tbilisi pride march was unreasonable. ‘
The [PM] called on the organisers of the March for Dignity not to march on Rustaveli Avenue, instead of blaming the members of the counter-rally for the possible escalation of the situation,” NGOs stated.
The statement of NGOs expressed its utmost concern and sorrow over the passing of Lekso Lashkarava and offered its condolences to his family and loved ones.
The signatories of the statement are:
- Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI)
- Governance Monitoring Centre (GMC)
- Sapari
- Society and Banks
- Media Development Fund (MDF)
- Georgia’s Reforms Associates (GRASS)
- The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)
- Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC)
- Human Rights Centre (HRC)
- Social Justice Centre
- Atlantic Council of Georgia
- Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA)
- Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia)
- International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)
- Centre for Research Journalism and Economic Analytics
- UN Association of Georgia (UNAG)
- Green Alternative
- Tbilisi Pride
- Democracy Research Institute (DRI)
An investigation has been launched in the death of Lekso Lashkarava, under Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Georgia – incitement to suicide, the Interior Ministry announced earlier today.
Over 50 journalists were physically and verbally assaulted by right-wing protesters of the Tbilisi Pride march on July 5.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has named drug overdose as a possible reason for the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava earlier today.
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.
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.
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.’
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.
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.’
Foreign officials and media organisations have demanded an impartial investigation into the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was attacked by right wing protesters on July 5 during the Tbilisi Pride counter-rally and later passed away on July 11.
The US Department of State has called on Georgian leaders to publicly condemn recent violence against journalists and to protect their right to freedom of the press, following violent attacks at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally on July 5, where TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava was beaten up by right-wing protesters and later was found dead at home on July 11.
Ambassadors of 25 EU countries have called on the Georgian government ‘to uphold the rule of law and to act in effective prevention of any future attempts at such criminal acts,’ following the violent events of July 5, where right-wing protesters attacked and assaulted journalists at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally, removed the EU flag twice from its position in front of parliament and burnt it.