‘Media under attack’: journalists hold silent protest as European Council President arrives in Batumi
Media representatives have been holding protest rallies since the death of TV Pirveli cameraman, who was one of the 53 representatives of media injured by right-wing groups during earlier in July. Photo: IPN
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Journalists have gathered in Batumi holding banners ‘media under attack’ as the plane of European Council President Charles Michel has landed in the Black Sea town.
Michel, who arrived in Georgia following his visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan, will meet with Georgian and foreign officials in the frames of the Batumi International Conference tomorrow.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has welcomed the European Council President:
Welcomed @eucopresident, who is to participate in #BatumiInternationalConference and engage in discussions regarding ongoing challenges and ambitious plans of the #AssociatedTrio ???????? ???????? ???????? in the process of the European integration! pic.twitter.com/t90OS8600J
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) July 18, 2021
The protests have sparked in Georgia earlier in July after right-wing groups disrupted Tbilisi Pride march, assaulting a total of 55 individuals, including 53 media representatives.
TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was among those attacked by the violent anti-pride activists, passed away soon after the incident.
Journalists hold Lekso Lashlarava's photo in the parliament of Georgia where the interior minister was supposed to speak about the July 5-6 violence in Tbilisi. Photo: Inga Grigolia's Facebook
His colleagues from TV Pirveli as well as several other media outlets have been gathering in front of the parliament building since Lekso’s death, demanding Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s resignation.
Earlier today, opposition MPs have disrupted the parliamentary hearing of Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri, who – as they claim – has failed to protect the safety of media and activists during the Tbilisi Pride week.
Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri’s parliamentary address on the violence of July 5-6 in Tbilisi has been postponed due to an opposition protest.
Police have detained one more individual for attacking TV Pirveli cameraman Levan Bregvadze while performing his professional duties near Revaz Tabukashvili and Giorgi Chanturia streets at the Tbilisi pride counter rally on July 5.
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.
“We are a sovereign and independent state. We are doing everything, and we are a distinguished star among the EU Eastern Partnership states, with our reforms, achievements”, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has told journalists today. In his comments he has assessed recent political developments in Georgia, country's EU aspirations, media freedom in Georgia, relations with US and recent appointment of Supreme Court judges.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has called yesterday’s disrupted parliamentary session ‘damaging and unacceptable’ amid the upcoming 17th International Conference - Georgia's European Way, which is taking place in Batumi today. Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri was to deliver an address at yesterday's extraordinary session regarding the events of July 5 and the measures taken by the police. Gomelauri was interupted by opposition MPs from the beginning of his speech and was not allowed to continue.
Police have detained one individual for the purchase, possession and sale of drugs in the Ponichala district of capital city of Tbilisi, 'the same individual who sold heroin to TV Pirveli cameramen Lekso Lashkarava' on July 10, a few days later after he was beaten severely at the July 5 Tbilisi pride counter rally.
Reporters from Georgian outlets are holding a protest near Mtatsminda Park in Tbilisi with demands of repercussions for violent individuals who attacked media professionals in the capital on July 5.
Droa political movement has held a rally in front of the Administration of the Government of Georgia demanding the resignation of Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili and the punishment of those responsible for violence against media at the July 5 Tbilisi pride counter rally.
The ruling Georgian Dream party will decide who is responsible for the violent events of July 5, Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri said on TV channel Rustavi 2 yesterday, responding to recent demands for his resignation from the opposition, journalists and NGOs.
Journalists have held a protest in Georgian parliament earlier today demanding the punishment of individuals who attacked journalists at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally on July 5 and the resignation of Prime Minister Garibashvili. Journalists held up a banner ‘punish offenders’ and photos of deceased TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was brutally beaten up by right-wing protesters at the counter rally.