14:54, 30 July 2021

Number of detainees in Tbilisi riots case rises to 31

Protesters at a rally in Tbilisi on July 5, 2021. Photo: REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze

Policemen have detained two more suspects of attacking journalists in Tbilisi during the July 5 protest. The overall number of detainees within the riot is now 31, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 5, 2021, during the riots at actions against the gay parade in Tbilisi, according to journalists' estimates, 53 media professionals were beaten up. The prosecutor's office recognized 41 people as victims. 24 people were accused of group violence.

On July 1-5, the "LGBT Week" was held in Tbilisi. Its actions turned into clashes that ended in detentions. On July 11, relatives of Lekso Lashkarava, a cameraman of the "Pirveli TV" Company, found him dead. He was severely beaten up on July 5 during the Tbilisi riots. After his death, journalists held protest actions in Georgia.

The Georgian MIA has detained two suspects of the July 5 violence in Tbilisi during an action against "Tbilisi Pride", the Channel One reports. According to investigators, the detainees attacked the cameraman of the "Formula" TV Company.

On July 16, human rights defenders called on law enforcers to bring the organizers of the violence to justice.

In their turn, Georgian authorities announced the politicization of the incident. In particular, according to Irakli Kobakhidze, the chairman of the ruling "Georgian Dream" Party, the opposition speculates on Lekso Lashkarava's death, the "News-Georgia" reports.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 30, 2021 at 11:17 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: CK correspondent