UPDATE: PM Garibashvili condemns attack on journalist Vakho Sanaia by three assailants in Tbilisi
Journalist Vakho Sanaia says that his profession was the reason for the attack. Photo: 1TV.
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Updated at 19:32
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibahsvili has condemned the recent attack on Formula TV journalist Vakho Sanaia in downtown Tbilisi.
I condemn all types of violence against any citizen, especially the media representative”, Garibashvili wrote on Facebook.
He then thanked the interior ministry for immediately detaining the attackers.
“I assure you that the response from the state will be adequate and the perpetrators will be held fully accountable to the law”, he added.
Earlier at 13:32
Vakho Sanaia, who was attacked by three individuals earlier today, says he sustained multiple injuries on his body.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has reported that the three individuals who were under the influence of alcohol attacked Sanaia and his relative.
Police say that the detainees face up to two years in prison.
— U.S. Embassy Tbilisi (@usingeo) February 25, 2021
Sanaia told Formula TV that he was attacked in Vake district, central Tbilisi, on his way to home from Tbilisi International Airport.
Sanaia said that he and his sister-in-law came to the airport to pick up Sanaia’s wife, his underage child and a nurse who were in Turkey for treatment.
He said that the road was iced and they had to call an emergency service in Vake to help them.
Sanaia says that the three individuals, ‘who were under the influence of alcohol’ were district locals and they ‘expressed aggression to me as a journalist.’
Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze has condemned the attack. Photo: parliament press office.
They were cursing television and media outlets. I was helping the emergency service staff when one of them ran to me to attack. I felt he was running to me and stood aside. He fell down. However, as the road was iced, I also fell down and two others also ran to me and started to beat,” Sanaia said.
He stated that his wife, child and sister-in-law were in the car that time.
My sister-in-law came to help me and she was also attacked,” Sanaia said.
He stated that the emergency service personnel helped them and police came shortly and detained the individuals at the scene.
Sanaia previously worked for TV Pirveli channel and moved to Formula TV last year.
He says that the attack is the result of a ‘negative campaign against critical TV channels.’
Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze has condemned the attack.
A timely and effective reaction to the incident must be a message to those who use violence,” Talakvadze said.
Vakho Sanaia is the brother of a famous Georgian journalist Giorgi Sanaia who was killed back in 2001 under Eduar Shevardnadze’s presidency.