Journalists interrupt Batumi council session with protest of death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava
Media representatives held up photos of the deceased Lekso Lashkarava in front of the Sakrebulo deputies. Photo: Batumelebi.ge.
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Journalists crashed the opening of a Batumi sakrebulo (city council) session earlier today, protesting the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was found dead on July 11 after he was violently attacked by right-wing groups on July 5 during the Tbilisi Pride march counter-rally.
The journalists demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the punishment of all guilty parties.
Media representatives also held up photos of the deceased Lekso Lashkarava in front of the Sakrebulo deputies.
Only one member of the council, Archil Mamuladze, condemned the violence and expressed his condolences to the journalists.
The journalists also distributed the inscriptions with the demands. Photo: video grab.
The council chairman said that the journalists were violating regulations with the protest and described it as ‘very, very bad behaviour.’
Civil activists, media representatives, opposition politicians and NGOs began demanding the resignation of PM Garibashvili the day Lashkarava died.
The ruling Georgian Dream party accused the opposition of ‘trading in tragedy’ and called them anti-Christian groups.
A total of 23 people have been detained for physical assault on more than 50 journalists and unlawful interference with their professional activities during the events of July 5.
Police have detained one more individual for attacking TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was beaten severely at the July 5 Tbilisi pride counter rally and later passed away on July 11, and one for physically assaulting a citizen on Rustaveli Avenue the same day.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Georgian ruling party has accused the opposition of ‘trading by tragedy’ following the death of the TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was found dead yesterday after being attacked by right-wing counter protesters of the Tbilisi Pride march on July 5. The head of the ruling party Irakli Kobakhidze said earlier today that the organisers of yesterday's rally, protesting the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, are the leaders of radical, anti-Christian groups, ‘who decided to score points on the death of the colleague.’
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili responded to yesterday's rally of journalists, civil activists and politicians who gathered in front of the parliament building to pay tribute to TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava and demand Garibashvili’s resignation. Garibashvili said that 'they tried to use this tragedy to achieve their own political goals'.