PM calls journalists ‘party activists’ in response to inquiry into responsibility for attacks on journalists, resignation
People demanding the resignation of PM Garibashvili at the media protest rally in front of parliament building on July 17. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Prime Minister Garibashvili has called journalists ‘party activists’ earlier today in response to inquiries into whether he would take responsibility for the attacks on journalists at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally on July 5 and leave the post following demands for his resignation from the opposition, NGOs and media representatives.
PM Garibashvili responded to journalists’ questions earlier today saying: ‘...unfortunately, TV stations have been transformed into departments of party organisations.’
He called on media representatives to ‘end the violence’ noting that managers of TV stations have to ‘put an end to the falsity and violence.’
Various media outlet representatives, NGOs and opposition leaders have been demanding the resignation of PM Irakli Garibashvili following the more than 50 cases of physical assault on journalists at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally and the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was violently beaten up by right-wing counter protesters on July 5 and found dead later on July 11.
A total of 53 journalists were injured at the counter rally on Rustaveli Avenue.
Police arrested 28 individuals for unlawful interference with the journalist’s professional activities.
Police have detained a 34-year-old man for the violent attack on a Public Broadcaster cameraman at the Tbilisi Pride march counter rally on July 5. The investigation established that the detainee verbally and physically assaulted the cameraman while performing his professional duties on Rustaveli Avenue.
Police have detained one more individual for attacking a Rustavi 2 TV cameraman on Rustaveli Avenue on July 5 during the Tbilisi Pride march counter rally. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reports that the detainee, identified only as U.D., (born in 1955) verbally and physically insulted Rustavi 2 cameraman.
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.
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.
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.
Mtavari Arkhi TV has asked the Prosecutor's Office to launch an investigation into an incident that involved Thea Tsulukiani, the Minister of Culture, Sport and Youth of Georgia, taking a microphone away from the channel's reporter on Thursday, with a video of the incident going viral on local social media channels.
Police have detained yet another individual for the violent attack on TV PIrveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava during the Tbilisi Pride counter rally. Lashkarava, 36, who was attacked in the office of the Shame Movement by over 30 right-wing activists on June 5, was found dead at his home several days later.
The Georgian revenue service has started inspecting the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi’s advertising company following the accusations of ruling party head Irakli Kobakhidze that three TV stations are funded with ‘black money.’ Head and founder of Mtavari Arkhi Nika Gvaramia linked the launch of the investigation to an attempt to falsify upcoming elections and noted that other media outlets face the same threat.
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.