Several arrested at yesterday’s rally protesting the death of TV Pirveli cameraman released
The remaining detainees will be charged in accordance with the code of administrative offences. Photo: Netgazeti.ge.
Tweet 
Share
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.
Participants of the rally also demanded the resignation of PM Garibashvili.
A member of the Droa movement, Shushana Matsaberidze, and cameraman of the Shame movement Luka Imedashvili were among the detainees. Imedashvili has already been released.
The political party Girchi - More Freedom announced that two governing board members Tengiz Kirtadze and Tsotne Lomidze were arrested at yesterday’s rally in front of the Georgian Dream’s office.
????During the protest @Girchi_GE’s governing board members Tengiz Kirtadze and Tsotne Lomidze have been arrested.
— Girchi•More Freedom (@Girchi_GE) July 12, 2021
The opposition party Lelo has also reported on the detention of their member Tazo Datunashvili.
Journalist of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) Irakli Absanidze was among the detainees from the rally at the headquarter of the ruling party. The journalist on his social media said that his hand was broken during the arrest. Absanidze had also been released.
Partner Organisations of the Coalition for Media Advocacy Consider Irakli Absandze's Detention as an attempt to intimidate the media.
The coalition calls on the Interior Ministry to refrain from using a similar mechanism of harassment and intimidation of journalists.
The remaining detainees will be charged in accordance with the code of administrative offences.