Protest at ruling party HQ ends, 12 detained
The Interior Ministry has announced that the protesters have exceeded the limits allowed by the law on freedom of assembly and expression. Photo: IPN
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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.
Twelve protesters were detained for 'exceeded the limits allowed by the law on freedom of assembly and expression', the Ministry of Internal Affairs has reported.
The Georgian Public Broadcaster journalist Irakli Absandze is among the detainees.
Droa’s member Shushana Matsaberidze has just been arrested in front of the @GeorgianDream41’s office. Here’s another look at the amount of Police guarding the territory: pic.twitter.com/uCQGCSVKvt
— Droa (@MovementDroa) July 12, 2021
They will have to hear the appeals of the Georgian people… We want to live in a country where human rights are being protected”, protester Nino Danelia told the Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
The protest moved from Rustaveli Avenue to the ruling party HQ after the interior ministry 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.
The peaceful protesters are now heading towards the head office of @GeorgianDream41. The protest continues after the Ministry of Internal affairs issued a shameful statement blaming the tragic death of Alexandre Lashkarava on possible drug overdose.
— Droa (@MovementDroa) July 12, 2021
The protesters threw eggs and painted the walls of the headquarter with the red paint.
Situation is getting extremely tense, activists, citizens, @Helenkhosh first attempted to spray red paint at the @GeorgianDream41 Head Office building. After eggs were thrown at the building, @MIAofGeorgia started arresting people gathered at the GD HQ. https://t.co/cJyaD82019
— Shame Movement (@Shamemovement) July 12, 2021
Journalists, civil activists and opposition politicians claim that the attack of the right-wing groups against various media representatives on July 5 were planned by the government of Georgia.
PM Garibashvili says the ongoing protest in Tbilisi following the TV Pirveli cameraman’s death is 'classic anti-state, anti-church and anti-national'.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Journalists and cameramen took the podium today during a briefing of Deputy Health Minister Tamar Gabunia, and held a minute of silence in protest of the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava. Deputy Health Minister Gabunia was going to introduce the latest decisions of today's Interagency Council Meeting before the incident took place.
Several detainees arrested at last night’s rally in front of the ruling Georgian Dream party headquarters have been released. Civil activists, journalists and opposition politicians were protesting the Interior Ministry’s claim that TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, beaten by crowds of Tbilisi Pride counter-rally protesters on July 5, may have passed away on June 11 due to a drug overdose.
TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was beaten severely at the July 5 Tbilisi pride counter rally and later passed away on July 11, will be buried today at Jikia cemetery in Tbilisi. Today a procession was held in honour of the memory of Lashkarava. During the procession, Lashkarava's body was led through a 'camera corridor' made by cameramen of various media outlets.
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.
A total of 36 NGOs and opposition parties have called on Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava to break the silence on violence against opposition female MPs by the ruling Georgian Dream party’s MPs during an incident which took place at the parliament session on July 18.