Four Georgian TV stations stop broadcasting in silent protest
Currently all four TV stations are broadcasting a black screen with a white text reading the names of journalists who were attacked at the July 5 counter rally. Screenshot from live broadcasting.
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Four TV stations – TV Pirveli, Mtavari Arkhi, Formula and Kavkasia – have stopped broadcasting for 24 hours, silently protesting violence against journalists on July 5 at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally which was followed by the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava.
The TV stations are also demanding the resignation of Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili.
Currently all four TV stations are broadcasting a black screen with a white text reading the names of journalists who were attacked at the July 5 counter rally as well as a statement demanding the resignation of Garibashvili and all those guilty of the violence to be punished.
The TV stations are also demanding the resignation of Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili and all those guilty of the violence to be punished. Screenshot from live broadcasting.
For the first time in the history of Georgia, four televisions stopped broadcasting at the same time. We are trying to make our voice heard louder to the authorities through our silent protest", said founder and general director of TV Pirveli Vakhtang Tsereteli.
Tsereteli added that 'a big rally' is planned for this Saturday on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi which will start at 6 p.m.
Yesterday regional media outlets stopped their regular programming for 10 minutes at 15:00 and broadcast a black screen with the text #forLekso.
Head of the Central Criminal Police Mamuka Tchelidze said on July 12 that although an autopsy is still underway to reveal the exact reason for Lashkarava’s death, samples taken from the corpse contained traces of various drugs, including morphine and codeine.
Lashkarava was buried at Jikia cemetery yesterday.
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.
Tbilisi City Court has denied bail to Davit Kutaladze – the latest of five individuals accused of attacking TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava and journalist Miranda Bagaturia on July 5 during the Tbilisi Pride counter-rally to come before the court.
Foreign officials and media organisations have demanded an impartial investigation into the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was attacked by right wing protesters on July 5 during the Tbilisi Pride counter-rally and later passed away on July 11.
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.