US Ambassador Degnan: ‘state authorities responsible for providing peaceful environment for citizens’
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan says that the authorities are responsible for providing a peaceful environment for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights, including the right to assembly, the right to freedom of expression and the right for journalists to practice their profession in a safe environment. Photo: netgazeti.ge.
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US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan says that the authorities are responsible for providing a peaceful environment for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights, including the right to assembly, the right to freedom of expression and the right for journalists to practice their profession in a safe environment.
Degnan noted that society didn’t see a safe environment on July 5 and 6, when dozens of journalists were attacked while covering the rally of right wing activists against the Tbilisi Pride march.
US Ambassador expressed hope that ‘now there will be a greater appreciation of how valuable and important these freedoms are’.
On July 11 media and civil society demanded the resignation of the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili following the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was physically assaulted by right-wing groups on July 5 and was found dead on July 11.
While talking about the demand of the media representatives and civil society, Degnan noted that it is for the people of Georgia to decide who is going to lead the country.
Degnan expressed her condolences over the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, noting that violence in any form is unacceptable.
It’s just unacceptable, but particularly so when it is aimed at disrupting people from exercising their constitutional rights, whether it's freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, the freedom to march for dignity down a street, whether you are minority or the majority”, said Degnan.
Levan Vasadze, right-wing businessman and the founder of political movement Unity, Essence, Hope blamed the US Ambassador for the death of the TV pirveli cameramen, saying the events of July 5 happened because of the US Ambassador, ‘who despite the church’s calls didn’t remain silent and called on the government to carry out this provocation’.
Responding to Vasadze's statement, Degnan said earlier today that she believes everybody knows who pays for that kind of pro-Kremlin disinformation.
And those people who want to incite violence here, create instability, are busy at work, doing the Kremlin's work to cause dissension, cause instability here in Georgia”, said Degnan.
Degnan said Georgians are smart enough to know exactly who’s behind such disinformation attempts and who pays for them.
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.
State officials, current and former diplomats and media rights organisations have been reacting to the developments in Tbilisi on Monday, where a right-wing demonstration against a planned Tbilisi Pride march for queer rights attacked reporters gathered to cover the eventually cancelled event before also storming offices of Pride organisers.
Georgian president condemns violence during today’s events
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has released a statement following today's events in the capital city of Tbilisi in which she condemns the violence and persecution of people on the basis of difference of opinion, sexuality or gender identity.
The diplomatic corps and international organisations have express their solidarity with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) individuals 'in support of equality and human rights for everyone in Georgia'.
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 protest at the headquarters of the ruling Georgian Dream party which moved from downtown Tbilisi demanding Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s resignation has ended for today. 12 protesters were detained after they threw eggs and painted the walls of the headquarter with the red paint.
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.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has praised Georgia’s commitments to reducing gas pollution and building a ‘transparent, competitive electricity market from scratch.’ However, she noted that the work needs to continue for the country to achieve energy independence.