Georgian media representatives file ECHR suit against “ineffective” state response to 2021 attack on journalists

Sixteen media representatives - journalists, camera crews and photographers - who were attacked by far-right groups while covering Tbilisi Pride events last year have filed a lawsuit against the state in the European Court of Human Rights, the Georgian Young Lawyers Association said on Monday.

The domestic organisation, which prepared the suit on behalf of the applicants, said several articles of the European convention had been violated during the attacks and subsequent investigations in July of last year, including prohibition of torture, freedom of expresison, right to effective remedy and prohibition of discrimination. 

It described the ongoing domestic investigation into the case - which declared 57 individuals as victims and filed charges against 31 alleged perpetrators - as “ineffective”. 

• 8 more people arrested for assaulting journalists, damaging Tbilisi Pride office on July 5

More than 50 journalists were injured after far-right and religious groups descended on reporters preparing to cover planned Tbilisi Pride events in central Tbilisi on July 5 last year. Organisers of the LGBTQ event later cancelled their programme as their offices were raided and activists attacked in the city.

• Court sentences 6 to up to 2 years in prison for attacking journalists at Tbilisi Pride counter-rally
• Court sentences 7 to year in prison for attacking reporters at Tbilisi Pride counter-rally

While arrests were made in the wake of the violent attacks, some media groups accused law enforcement of having intentionally failed to provide adequate security for journalists and media crews as a form of “punishment” to their critical coverage of the government over the years.