Court sentences 6 to 5 years in prison for attacking TV Pirveli cameraman, journalist at Tbilisi Pride counter-rally

Tbilisi City Court has sentenced six individuals to five years in prison for attacking TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava and journalist Miranda Baghaturia, at a right-wing counter rally organised against Tbilisi Pride march on July 5, 2021.

Akaki Nakashidze, Tornike  Davlasheridze, Davit Kutaladze, Otar Gelashvili, Tsotne Chikhladze and Gia Giguashvili were charged with group violence against the journalists, and found guilty by judge Nino Eleishvili earlier on Monday.

Despite a number of pieces of evidence presented by the State Prosecutor’s Office proving  the violence against journalists on the date, none of the offenders pleaded guilty, local media outlet Interpressnews reported.

Lekso Lashkarava, who was beaten severely at the counter rally, died on July 11.