24 journalists file lawsuit against gov’t over July 5 events

Twenty-four journalists from four media outlets have filed a lawsuit against the government over July 5, 2021 events, when, during Tbilisi Pride, right-wing activists attacked journalists, leaving more than 50 of them injured. 

Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia) will defend the legal interests of the journalists of the Main Channel, Formula TV, TV Pirveli and On.ge.

“With the lawsuit, we claim that on July 5, 2021, the government did not fulfill its constitutional obligation and did not protect the journalists there. We have evidence of this. We have conclusive evidence that the Georgian government and the Ministry of Internal Affairs had all resources to protect journalists, but they refused to do so,” TI Georgia head Eka Gigauri said today.

She stated that journalists and media outlets were also seeking 5,000 GEL compensation each for the damage received that day.

A cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was also injured on the day, died several days after being discharged from hospital. 

His relatives and friends claimed that the injuries received on the day became the reason for death. 

However, the Georgian Interior Ministry cited drug intoxication as the reason.