Two face longer sentences for assaulting reporters in 2021
The protests by the far-right activists against the planned Tbilisi Pride march left 53 reporters injured. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Tbilisi Court of Appeals on Monday sentenced two individuals to three years in prison for an assault on reporters covering events around the 2021 Tbilisi Pride festival, extending their previous terms by one year and nine months.
The ruling came after the two convicts served their original sentences of one year and three months, issued by Tbilisi City Court following assaults on reporters who had gathered to cover the queer event on July 5, 2021.
One of the offenders was arrested immediately after today’s verdict, while the other is on the run, Interpressnews said.
The Court, however, rejected the prosecution’s motion for stricter punishment for five other offenders in the same case, leaving their previous prison terms of between one and three years unchanged.
In the incident, the media crews were attacked by far-right activists protesting the festival, leaving 53 injured, before they also stormed offices of Pride organisers.
In total, 31 individuals were arrested by domestic law enforcement for violence during the events, with 27 of them charged with assaulting reporters.
TV channels Mtavari Arkhi, Formula and Pirveli have left Rustaveli Avenue following violence against the media by right-wing groups protesting Tbilisi Pride, heads of the TV stations announced earlier today. They released an emergency statement and condemned the violence against the media.
A Palitranews cameraman who was attacked by right wing activists earlier today has undergone an operation at New Hospitals and is being taken to the med ward at this time. Head of the New Hospitals emergency service Mikheil Beriashvili said that the patient had a head injury and a broken nose.
Georgian TV channel Rustavi 2 will not cover events organised by right-wing groups starting today, amid the violence against journalists at the Tbilisi Pride march counter rally. The TV channel also calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to immediately investigate criminal offences against the employees of the TV station.
Police are investigating an attack on the offices of Tbilisi Pride and the Shame movement by right-wing groups protesting the Tbilisi Pride march earlier today, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has announced. Civil movement Shame reported that no one was injured in the attack on their office.