Sixth individual accused of attacking deceased TV Pirveli cameraman at Tbilisi Pride counter rally denied bail

A sixth individual detained for attacking now-deceased TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava at the Tbilisi Pride march counter rally on July 5 has been denied release on bail.

The prosecution demanded the use of the most severe measure of restraint against Gia Giguashvili due to the nature of the crime. 

The defence did not agree with the motion of the prosecutor and demanded Giguashvili's release on bail of 3,000 GEL. 

Lashkarava was beaten up by right-wing counter protesters at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally on July 5 in the office of the Shame Movement and was found dead at home later on July 11. 

The exact cause of Lashkarava’s death remains unclear. 

The Georgian Interior Ministry published footage of Lashkarava from the day before his death, which showed him going with a friend to Ponichala–a suburb of Tbilisi known for its connections to drug production and distribution–and suggested that the possible reason for death could have been a drug overdose. 

Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri noted that police were releasing details of the case due to the high public interest. He also said that one drug dealer who allegedly had sold drugs to Lashkarava had been detained along with 27 other drug dealers.

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Currently, 52 people have been granted victim status, including 42 journalists and cameramen for the violence on July 5-6; 29 people have been arrested for unlawful interference with a journalist’s professional activities.