Four independent Georgian television stations suspended broadcasting for 24 hours on Wednesday (July 14) to protest the attack on journalists and the death of a photographer.
On Sunday, a 37-year-old photographer Alexander Lashkarava, who works for independent television station Pirveli, was attacked by a violent mob to protest the planned LGBTQ Pride Parade. Demonstrations broke out in the capital Tbilisi.
His death, as well as the beating of dozens of other journalists by the mob, triggered a wave of anger in the Caucasus and abroad. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) stated that this “marked a disastrous turning point for freedom of information in Georgia.”
The well-known Georgian television personality and administrator accused the government of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili of setting up violent hate groups against critics of the media.
On Wednesday, four independent television stations-Formula, Mtavari, Pirveli and Kavkasia-said they would suspend broadcasting for 24 hours.
“Gary Bashvili must resign. All those who attacked journalists on July 5 must be prosecuted,” they posted the same statement on their Facebook page.
Instead of broadcasting regular programs, the four national broadcasters broadcast a rolling list of more than 50 journalists who were injured in the attacks last week, including concussions, chemical burns and broken arms.
“We have suspended the program for 24 hours. Our silence will shout out the incredible challenges facing independent media in Georgia,” Pirveli TV news editor Nodar Meladze told AFP.
On Tuesday, hundreds of reporters attended the funeral of Rashkarava and saw his coffin carried across the corridor of his colleagues, and their cameras were placed on tripods.
Gary Bashvili expressed condolences to Lashkarava’s family and colleagues and promised to investigate the cause of his death quickly, which he called an “incredible tragedy.”
The United States and the European Union condemned the attacks on journalists and called for the prosecution of the perpetrators.
When asked on Wednesday about possible sanctions against Georgian officials due to the attack, Ned Price, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said at a press conference: “We have many tools to hold those who violated human rights and the world in some way. People responsible for violence everywhere. Sanctions are indeed one of these tools.”
Reporters Without Borders accused the authorities of being “passive” and stated that the police failed to protect reporters.
Critics accuse the ruling Georgian Dream of tacitly supporting homophobic and nationalist groups.
These groups are seen as supporters of the ruling party and have staged protests against pro-Western opposition parties, attacking opposition leaders and activists.
