Rights defenders demand to punish policemen for using violence against journalists in Tbilisi

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) must compensate the material damage and moral harm suffered by 24 journalists during the rally of opponents of the LGBT parade in Tbilisi in July 2021, the NGO "Transparency International-Georgia" has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 5, 2021, during the riots at the protests against the gay parade in Tbilisi, according to journalists' estimates, a total of 53 media professionals were beaten up. Several rioters were detained, including Ushangi Datunashvili, suspected of attacking a "Rustavi-2" cameraman. In April, the court sentenced five attackers on Lekso Lashkarava, a cameraman of the "TV-Pirveli" to five years in prison each; soon after the attack, Lashkarava died.

Earlier, journalists claimed ineffectiveness of the inquiry and demanded resignation of the government. Large-scale protests were held in Tbilisi and other cities. On July 20, 2021, journalists gathered in front of the Georgian parliament and demanded to punish those responsible and dismiss the prime minister.

The NGO "Transparency International-Georgia" believes that the police failed to protect journalists on July 5 and ensure the due conditions for their professional work, the "News-Georgia" quotes Eki Gigauri, the head of the above NGO; she has stated that intends to seek punishment for law enforcers up to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

The Georgian politicians interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have suggested that during the LGBT rally on July 5, 2021, law enforcers had known the potential places for unrests but failed to prevent them; and the attacks were organized in order to disrupt the Euro-Atlantic integration.