Number of persons accused of riots against Tbilisi gay parade reaches 24

Charges of group violence have been brought against two attackers on the cameraman, Lekso Lashkarava, and a member of the LGBT community, as well as against 22 other detainees. 41 people have been recognized as victims, the General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) of Georgia has informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 5, during the riots that occurred at actions against the gay parade in Tbilisi, 53 media professionals were beaten up. Over 20 attackers were arrested, but among them there are no organizers of the riots, the journalists and human rights defenders, who gathered on July 15 at the building of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), assert.

According to investigators, on July 5, one of those accused and those who accompanied him attacked Lekso Lashkarava, a cameraman of the "TV-Pirveli" Company, forcing him to stop filming. The second defendant attacked a man with an LGBT flag. Both attackers face from four to six years in prison.

In total, charges have been brought against 24 opponents of the "Tbilisi Pride". The GPO has recognized 41 persons as victims, including 35 media professionals, the "News-Georgia" reports.

The Georgian MIA has reported that searches are being conducted at residences of the organizers of the action against the "Tbilisi Pride", in particular, of Guram Palavandishvili and Zurab Makharadze, the founder of the "Alt-info".