Thousands of people gathered in Georgia on Sunday (July 11), demanding that the government resign after a TV cameraman was beaten to death by a far-right attacker during a protest against the LGBTQ Pride March.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, 37-year-old Alexander Lashkarava, a photographer for independent television station Pirveli, was found dead in bed.
On Monday, he was attacked by a group of violent anti-LGBTQ protesters and suffered a fractured facial bone.
On that day, more than 50 journalists were injured by anti-LGBTQ groups protesting the planned march, which was cancelled due to safety concerns.
According to an AFP reporter at the scene, human rights activists called for protests on Sunday night. By 8pm, about 8,000 demonstrators gathered outside the parliament.
They demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, claiming that he and the ruling Georgian Dream Party contributed to violence against media representatives.
“We ask Irakli Garibashivili and his government to resign immediately, and they took the lead in violating journalists,” Nika Melia, leader of the United National Movement, the main opposition force in Georgia, told AFP at the rally.
Giorgi Svanidze, a 43-year-old doctor, said that the ruling Georgian Dream Party “is creating an atmosphere of hatred in this country-against journalists, activists, opponents.”
“The government must go,” the protester told AFP.
The United States and the European Union condemned the attacks on journalists and called for the prosecution of the perpetrators.
“The safety of every Georgian journalist and the credibility of Georgian democracy require that everyone who attacks peaceful citizens and journalists… must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted within the limits of the law,” the U.S. Embassy said.
“Let me reiterate the EU’s strong condemnation of all violence and our firm and unwavering support for the media and freedom of assembly,” said Karl Herzell, the EU’s ambassador to Georgia, in a statement.
‘Guilty Passive’
Prime Minister Garibashvili expressed condolences to Rashkarava’s family and colleagues and promised to investigate the cause of his death quickly.
“This is an incredible tragedy,” he said on Facebook.
The Georgian Ministry of Interior said in a brief statement that an investigation into Lashkarava’s death had begun.
The four men who attacked Lashkarava this week were arrested, but Pirveli TV criticized the police for not prosecuting about two dozen other assailants, even though their identities have been determined.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the attack on Monday, saying the reporter had “continuous injuries, including concussions, chemical burns, and broken arms.”
It accused the authorities of “guilty passivity” and said the police failed to protect journalists.
The famous Georgian TV personality and manager accused the Gary Bashvili government of planning a violent campaign against journalists.
“The government not only encourages violence against journalists, but it is also part of the violence,” Pirveli TV news editor Nodar Meladze told AFP.
He said: “The government has established violent groups to attack independent media, and riot police have repeatedly targeted journalists.”
In June 2019, riot police injured approximately 40 journalists who reported on anti-government protests.
After Gary Bashvili publicly opposed the holding of the Pride Parade, he was strongly criticized by opposition and rights activists, calling it “unacceptable to a large part of Georgian society.”
Critics accuse the ruling Georgian dream of acquiescing in support of gay and nationalist groups, which have also protested against pro-Western opposition parties.
