US DoS calls on Georgian leaders to publicly condemn violence following death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava
A total of 21 people have been arrested as part of an investigation into allegations of violence against journalists on July 5. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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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.
We extend our deepest condolences to your former colleague Lekso Lashkarava, to his family, loved ones, and of course to his colleagues... We’re closely following the reports concerning his death. We do call for calm and an end to the violence that has already caused one tragic loss of life, in this case, the death of your colleague,” US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said.
.@StateDeptSpox on violence in Georgia: We remind Georgia's leaders and its law enforcement of their responsibility to protect all of those exercising their constitutional rights. We remind them of their responsibility to protect journalists exercising freedom of the press. pic.twitter.com/MSdZAfM62W
— Department of State (@StateDept) July 13, 2021
Ned Price also said that ‘[we] do not preview sanctions before they enact them,’ answering a question concerning possible personal sanctions against several Georgian officials, ‘who were directly responsible for the violence on July 5.’
We have a number of tools to hold accountable those responsible in some way for human rights abuses, for violence around the world. Sanctions are indeed one of those tools. As you know, we don’t preview sanctions before we enact them. But we are following the situation very closely, and we are committed to seeing that those responsible for this are held accountable,” Ned Price noted.
Price also reiterated the importance of conducting an investigation to ‘bring the perpetrators of this horrific crime’ to justice and prosecute them to the full extent of the law.
He also noted that the issue concerning the demands of the resignation of Prime Minister Garibashvili is up to the Georgian people, saying that ‘his future is a decision for the Georgian people.’
A total of 21 people have been arrested as part of an investigation into allegations of violence against journalists on July 5.