Number of people detained in case on riots in Tbilisi rises to 26

The police detained a person suspected of involvement in riots in Tbilisi on July 5, and the total number of the suspects detained in the case reached 26, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) reported.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that according to the journalists’ estimates, on July 5, during the riots at the protest actions against the gay pride parade in Tbilisi, 53 media workers were beaten. The Prosecutor’s Office recognized 41 people as victims, including 35 journalists. Twenty-five people were accused of gang violence.

The Georgian police have detained another person suspected of using violence during the protest action against the Tbilisi pride parade on July 5, the Georgian MIA reported. “In total, 26 people have been detained on the fact of the threat of violence against a journalist during the professional activity, illegal interference, persecution with violence or threat of violence, or violence committed by a group of persons,” the Georgian MIA reported as quoted today by the Georgian “First Channel”.

Let us remind you that from July 1 to 5, the LGBT Week was held in Tbilisi, which was planned to end with the “March of Dignity”. The actions escalated into clashes that ended in detentions. On July 11, relatives of Lekso Lashkarava, a cameraman of the “Pirveli” TV Channel, found him dead at home. The journalist was severely beaten during the riots that took place in Tbilisi on July 5.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 20, 2021 at 12:47 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.