PM Garibashvili: 'We heard anti-state, anti-church and anti-national messages at yesterday's rally'
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili responded to yesterday's rally of journalists, civil activists and politicians who gathered in front of the parliament building to pay tribute to TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava and demand Garibashvili’s resignation. Photo: PM's press office.
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili responded to yesterday's rally of journalists, civil activists and politicians who gathered in front of the parliament building to pay tribute to TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava and demand Garibashvili’s resignation.
Lashkarava, 36, was one of those attacked during the siege on the offices of the Shame Movement on July 5. He received a concussion, facial bone fractures and multiple bruises, and was found dead at home yesterday morning by his family.
Garibashvili said the rally was 'another unsuccessful conspiracy against the state'.
We heard classic anti-state, anti-church and anti-national messages at yesterday's rally. We heard messages, for example, made by aggressive speakers demanding the arrest of the Patriarch by the police, in addition to demanding [our] resignation... The conspiracy planned by the anti-state and anti-church forces did not take and will never take place in our country", Garibashvili said earlier today.
Journalists, civil activists and politicians gathered in front of the parliament building yesterday to pay tribute to TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava and demand Garibashvili’s resignation. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Garibashvili said that 'they tried to use this tragedy to achieve their own political goals'.
What could be more immoral than trying to achieve one’s own political goals through the tragedy of a dead individual. No matter what the cause of death of Aleksandre Lashkarava was, all the offenders will be severely punished. Police have already arrested four people involved in his beating. We condemn, we will always condemn and prevent any violence in the country", Garibashvili said.
Garibashvili stated that large-scale civil strife was planned on July 5, but 'we had assessed these risks in advance and did not allow it'.
He said that the Tbilisi Pride events were supported and co-organised by the Shame movement 'which is absolutely and completely run by [ex-president Mikheil] Saakashvili's organisations'.
As you know, on July 5, at the government meeting, I announced in advance that a very large-scale provocation against our country and population was planned. I also mentioned the specific name of those who are behind this revanchist, radical conspiracy, it is Mr. Saakashvili and his radical group", said Garibashvili.
Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Garibashvili added that 'the opposition TV stations, Mtavari Arkhi, Formula and TV Pirveli are run directly by Saakashvili and with stolen finances'.
They have one goal, to somehow overthrow the government and come to power again by force, which of course is unattainable, we will not allow it. I would like to remind them that the only way to come to power is to participate in elections", Gharibashvili said.
He said that when '95% of our population demonstratively opposes the propaganda parade, we, my friends, must all obey it'. Read full statement here.
This is the opinion of our people and we, as a government elected by the people, must obey it", he added.
Garibashvili expressed his condolences to the family members of Lashkarava and promised that 'all the participants of this provocation will be punished.’
Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
He said that at the initiative of the family of Laskharava and at the request of the TV stations, an autopsy is being carried out with the participation of an independent expert.
All questions will be answered comprehensively as soon as possible", Garibashvili said.
He added that the investigation is working on several accounts, including why the journalists and cameramen were attacked during the counter-rally.
This is a legitimate question that the investigation needs to answer. There is a version of events that a revanchist, radical force may be behind these provocateurs. We remember well and no one in this country will forget the methods used by abusers and murderers to rule our country. When terrorist acts were even staged to achieve their own political goals against our citizens", Garibashvili said.
Garibashvili stated that 'we have absolutely full control over the situation' and that any one, at any time has the right to express his/her opinion in Georgia within the law and the Constitution.
Police have detained one more individual who attacked TV Pirveli journalists in the office of the Shame Movement in Tbilisi on July 5 during the counter-rally against the Tbilisi Pride march. The Ministry of Internal Affair reports that in total 20 people have been arrested for verbally and physically assaulting media representatives on July 5 of which five are detained for attacking the TV Pirveli crew.
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.
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.
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.
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.’
An extraordinary sitting of the Parliament of Georgia scheduled for this morning has not been held so far as some media executives, civil society and opposition groups broke into the parliamentary session hall, occupied the speaker's seat, displayed Georgian and EU flags and did not allow the ruling party to start the session.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili and Ombudswoman Nino Lomjaria have met today following the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava to discuss the violent developments in Tbilisi on July 5-6.
Journalists, civil activists and politicians have again gathered in front of the parliament building in downtown Tbilisi demanding Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s resignation, following the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was one of the 53 media representatives attacked by the right-wing groups during the Tbilisi Pride counter rally.
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.
Police have detained one more individual for attacking TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was beaten severely at the July 5 Tbilisi pride counter rally and later passed away on July 11, and one for physically assaulting a citizen on Rustaveli Avenue the same day.
Journalists crashed the opening of a Batumi sakrebulo (city council) session earlier today, protesting the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was found dead on July 11 after he was violently attacked by right-wing groups on July 5 during the Tbilisi Pride march counter-rally. The journalists demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the punishment of all guilty parties. Media representatives also held up photos of the deceased Lekso Lashkarava in front of the Sakrebulo deputies.
After six hours of interrogation Guram Palavandishvili, Zurab Makharadze and archpriest Tskipurishvili have left the Tbilisi Main Police Department. All three individuals interrogated today say they did not commit any violence during the counter rally on July 5. Makharadze said that 'if there is pressure from the US ambassador and ambassadors of the European countries' he could not rule out being arrested.