Activists attacked in Tbilisi

At night, men in masks beat up activists of the “Akhali” Party in Tbilisi.

On December 8, in Tbilisi, Georgian media employees held a solidarity rally with their colleagues who were injured while covering the protests. Earlier, journalists and activists have complained that men wearing masks were attacking protesters. The activists have suggested that the incidents were organized by the “Georgian Dream” Party. The ruling party denied any involvement in the attacks.

On December 8, special forces with water cannons were accumulated at Freedom Square in Tbilisi, and opponents of the suspension of European integration gathered in front of the parliament building again at night, the “News Georgia” agency reported.

Not far from the Georgian parliament, a group of about 50 people beat up several members of the “Akhali” Party. A police squad was on duty nearby, but it did not intervene in what was happening, the “Georgia 24” Telegram channel reported.

On December 7, a group of men in masks attacked the “Pirveli” TV Channel crew in Tbilisi, including journalist Maka Chikhladze and cameraman Giorgi Shetsiruli, who were covering the beating of protesters by the police. The injured journalists were hospitalized with concussions.

Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, the host of the programme on the Georgian “Channel One” TV Channel, called the incident with the beating of the “Pirveli” TV Channel crew unacceptable. “This is an attempt to incite confrontation in society. We have seen not only attacks on journalists, but also attacks on ordinary people ... Our society must definitely unite,” the news agency quotes Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani as saying.

Let us remind you that on the night of December 7, in Tbilisi, the police detained Beslan Kmuzov, a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent, who was covering one of the protest actions.