Georgian ruling party accuses opposition of ‘trading by tragedy’ following death of TV Pirveli cameraman
Protesters demand the resignation of PM Garibashvili in front of the parliament building on July 11, following the death of TV Pirveli cameraman. Photo: Nino Alavidze/ Agenda.ge.
Tweet 
Share
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 leaders of the radical, anti-Christian groups are Nodar Meladze (head of TV Pirveli), Nika Gvaramia (Head of TV channel Mtavari Arkhi), movement Shame and the political forces, which coordinated the organisers of yesterday's rally...Their goal is to confront the state and the church,” said Kobakhidze.
Vice Prime Minister Tea Tsulukiani said that blaming the government for the death of the TV Pirveli cameraman is shameful. She called on ‘some TV stations’ to stop participating in provocations.
I would also urge you to stop the aggression towards the majority who believe that the parade should not be held on Rustaveli Avenue and learn to respect each other. I ask journalists as well not to intimidate me by the EU ambassador, because you are playing with this, when you intimidate Georgians with Europeans, you are doing a Russian job,” Tsulukiani said.
People pay tribute to the deceased TV Pirveli cameraman in front of the parliament of Georgia on July 11. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Head of Georgian Dream faction, MP Mamuka Mdinaradze also accused ‘certain people’ of manipulating by tragedy and assessed it as bad behaviour.
I have questions for people who have started to trade the tragedy, who have the full information, much more than we do. At this point, specific people come out and manipulate the tragedy. This is very bad behaviour...Those abusive actions against journalists on July 5, are the actions of the darkest people, who have no idea about patriotism, the patriarchate or the church,” noted Mdinaradze.
Int’l community sends condolences over death of TV Pirveli cameraman
Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava also responded to the ongoing events in Georgia and said that Lashkarava's death was a continuation of the events of July 5 and called it ‘black spot.’
[The death of TV Pirveli cameraman] is a sad and tragic development of the events that started on July 5, which has no justification...Unfortunately, this black spot has remained in our history as July 5…Parliament will also have to be actively involved in actually identifying all the causes. This is not only about the independent and impartial investigation,” said Kuchava.
Yesterday civil activists, journalists and politicians gathered in front of the parliament building, demanding the resignation of PM Garibashvili, following the death of the TV Pirveli cameraman, who was violently beaten up by the right-wing protesters on July 5.
An investigation into the death of the cameraman was launched yesterday under Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Georgia – incitement to suicide.
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. Garibashvili said that 'they tried to use this tragedy to achieve their own political goals'.
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.
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.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has named drug overdose as a possible reason for the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava earlier today.
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.
An extraordinary session of the Parliament of Georgia scheduled for this morning started three hours late after members of the opposition, several media executives and civil society broke into the parliament hall, occupied the speaker’s seat and didn’t 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 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.
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.