President, Ombudswoman meet to discuss July 5-6 violence in Tbilisi
President Salome Zurabishvili and Ombudswoman NIno Lomjaria held a close-door meeting earlier today. Photo: Public Defender's Facebook
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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.
President’s press office announced that during the meeting the President, ‘as a guarantor of human rights protection by the Constitution’ and the Ombudswoman, ‘as a human rights defender’, spoke about ‘easing the current tension and reducing controversies’ in Georgia.
We had a very sincere conversation. I cannot speak about the President’s attitudes or remarks, [but] she will probably make her own statements in coming days”, Lomjaria told journalists following the meeting with Zurabishvili.
Lomjaria however said that during this close-door meeting with the President, she told Salome Zurabishvili that the organisers of the Tbilisi Pride counter rally of July 5 should be persecuted for group violence.
The Ombudswoman said she also spoke about Lekso Lashkarava’s death and the overall threats that right-wing violent groups pose to the country.
The President is worried about all of the issues that we have discussed… We spoke about the human rights… I have meanwhile negatively assessed today's statements of [Prime Minister] Irakli Garibashvili, which I find undemocratic and against human rights”, Lomjaria said.
Nino Lomjaria has also underscored in her remarks how important the President’s position and her massages are especially today for protecting democratic values and human rights in the country.
Public Defender’s Statement on Investigation of Actions of Organizers of July 5-6 events https://t.co/Np99r8GbP0
— Ombudsman of Georgia (@Ombudsman_Geo) July 12, 2021
In her statement released earlier today, Lomjaria called on the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor's Office ‘to identify the main persons responsible for the actions of the alleged violent groups as soon as possible, as a matter of priority, and to launch criminal proceedings against them, as well as to proactively inform the public about the progress of the investigation’.
Stressing that the Public Defender’s Office will continue to monitor the investigation into the events of July 5 and 6, Nino Lomjaria calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to conduct an effective investigation into the death of the TV Pirveli cameraman.
TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, 36, was found dead at home yesterday. He was one of the 53 media representatives who were attacked by right-wing groups during the Tbilisi Pride counter rally on June 5.
Lashkarava, who had received a concussion, facial bone fractures and multiple bruises, underwent treatment at home after the medical surgery.