Aleksandre Lashkarava, the cameraman of TV Pirveli, died today, on July 11. He was one of the journalists injured during the events of July 5th. He was attacked in a group during the raid on the office of the movement "Shame". Aleksandre Lashkarava had severe injuries to his face and head. On July 5, more than 50 members of the media were injured in attacks on journalists by the violent groups on Rustaveli Avenue, several among them were injured severely.

The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics believes that the authorities have not taken appropriate measures to prevent the violence, and in some cases, statements by high-ranking government officials have even encouraged the activities of the violent groups.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs failed to protect the journalists from physical violence on July 5, it could not ensure the safe operation of the media as well. Most of the facts of attacks on journalists, obstruction of media activities, and violence have not been investigated so far, and the responsibility of the organizers of the violent groups has not been outlined.

The violent groups continue to use hate speech in an organized manner with the media, which encourages violence. We require the following:

• Authorities shall take immediate steps to end organized violence against the media;
• Not only the participants of the violent action but also the organizers shall be punished;
• To respond effectively to all facts of organized media attacks;
• To start investigating messages containing threatening performed towards the media;
• Authorities shall immediately stop speaking hate speech to the media, follow the law, and protect the journalists;
• To bring up the issue of the political responsibility of the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Prime Minister.

The cases of violation of journalists' rights in Georgia have reached a critical point. Hereby, we reiterate that the government has failed to guarantee the safety and security of media representatives as earlier attacks on journalists went largely unpunished.

On July 5 - 6, 2021, dozens of journalists and cameramen became the subject of large-scale violence. On a day when the March for Dignity, organized by Tbilisi Pride, was supposed to take place in Tbilisi, violent groups targeted media representatives, inflicted physical injuries and verbal abuse, and deliberately smashed their equipment to obstruct coverage.

Despite earlier warnings from the civil sector, the authorities did not take relevant measures to ensure the safety of the organizers of the March for Dignity or the media. The acts of violence were broadcast live. It was obvious that the insufficient police force was acting passively and failed to restore the order in the streets.

On July 5, prior to the cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, put the responsibility for the possible aggravation of the situation not on the counter-protesters, but on the organizers of the Tbilisi Pride, and called them not to hold the march on Rustaveli Avenue. During violent attacks, the only protection mechanism applied by the Ministry of Interior was withdrawing the journalists from the coverage scene.

The attacks against the media continued on July 6, 2021, in the course of the solidarity rally in Tbilisi, when the violent groups attempted to disrupt the live broadcast of Formula TV.

According to the official information, a total of 53 representatives of more than 10 media outlets were injured. Some of them were admitted to the hospitals with severe injuries and are under medical care up to date.

In response to the multiple acts of violence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has detained only 12 individuals under the charges of illegal interference with journalistic activities, while the journalists were able to identify more attackers in the available video footage.

In the light of the unprecedented scale of violence against the media and in order to protect freedom of speech and expression and other fundamental rights in the country, we appeal to the Government of Georgia:

• To conduct a prompt and efficient investigation into the cases of violence against the media representatives injured on July 5 - 6, 2021, as well as to bring the perpetrators to justice
• To cease using hate speech against the media and openly support the freedom of journalists to carry out professional duties

We appeal to the Parliament of Georgia:

• To hold an ad-hock hearing of July 5-6 events in the Parliament, and to evaluate the efficiency of the steps taken by the government to protect the citizens
• To condemn the calls and acts of violence
• To issue the statements in favor of freedom of expression and openly support the freedom of journalists to carry out professional duties.
  
  

Signatories:

Alliance of Regional Broadcasters - AB

Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics

Georgian Democracy Initiative - GDI

Georgian Regional Media Association - GRMA

Georgian Young Lawyers` Association - GYLA

International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)

Institute for Development of Freedom of Information -IDFI

Liberal Academy Tbilisi

Media Club

Media Development Foundation

Media Rights

Open Society Foundation OSGF

Rights Georgia

Small and Medium Telecommunication Operators Association of Georgia

Transparency International Georgia

TV network

According to the reports, the violent groups on Rustaveli Avenue physically and verbally abuse the journalists. Media outlets report that members of the violent group attack journalists, swear and force them to leave the area. 

• According to "TV Pirveli", the equipment belonging to the broadcaster was damaged;
• According to "Formula TV", Guga Dvalishvili, a journalist of the Public Broadcaster, was deprived of a microphone and thrown out of his hands, and the cameraman was physically abused;
• Giorgi Gabunia and Lekso Khomasuridze - another crew of "Formula TV" was beaten;
• The sticks were thrown to the "Rustavi 2" journalists;
• Mako Jabua, a journalist of "Tabula" wearing a T-shirt with the caption "Press", was attacked and beaten with the cudgel at her head;
• Luka Pertaia, a journalist of "Netgazeti" was verbally abused;
• Tamta Kakhaberidze - a journalist of "On.ge" was attacked;
• According to "Palitra News", their media operator was beaten, he had injuries on his face. Also, the equipment belonging to the broadcaster was damaged;
• According to TV "Imedi", the protesters physically confronted their journalist and cameraman;
• Two journalists from "Radio Liberty" were injured; 
• According to the "First Channel", their cameraman Ilia Tvaliashvili was injured;
• Alexander Lashkarava, the cameraman of "TV Pirveli", was beaten and his equipment was broken;
• According to the Adjara Public Broadcaster, their journalists was attacked by radical citizens. Journalist Tiko Susareishvili was injured;
• "Mtavari Channel" journalists Dea Mamiseishvili, Irakli Bakhtadze, Nino Gazdeliani, Datuna Akhaladze, Anri Jokharidze, Keta Tsitskishvili and Tornike Barnabishvili were injured;
• According to "Guria News", their journalist Merab Tsaava was confronted at the rally;
• Journalists of TV "Rustavi 2" Mariam Kumsishvili, Marika Gotsiridze, Giorgi Pertia, Salome Bokuchava, Zura Managadze, Beka Atabegashvili, Nikoloz Urushadze and Shota Sikinchalashvili were injured;
• "Interpressnews" photo correspondent Giorgi Nikolishvili is injured;
• Formula TV journalists Nino Vardzelashvili, Rati Tsverava, Luka Khachidze, cameramen Levan Bregvadze, Nikoloz Kaliashvili, Zaza Kapanadze, Giorgi Maisashvili, photographer Vakho Kareli were injured.

According to our information, about 40 journalists and cameramen were injured. A list of them can be found here. (a list may be updated)

The Charter urges the Ministry of Internal Affairs to protect media representatives from illegal interference and violence in their journalistic activities.

The Charter of Journalistic Ethics urges the government to protect the safety of journalists and create appropriate working conditions for the media in the course of their professional activities so that citizens have the opportunity to receive information about the current processes.

The Charter of Journalistic Ethics will always protect the rights of journalists and the high standard of freedom of expression.

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To the Prime Minister of Georgia  
and heads of press agencies of governmental institutions
   
Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics, which unites 363 journalists, addresses you. Journalists within and outside of the organization talk about bad practices of several governmental (especially law enforcement structures) institutions. They are often invited to the briefings with no prior knowledge of what the discussed topic will be. It is vital that media knows the topic of briefing or press conference, to decide, according to human and technical resources, whether they want to attend or not.

Appeal by the journalists to the
Georgian Government
the Georgian Interior Minister and
the diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia

The breakup of a rally in the Rustaveli Avenue on June 21, 2019, in Tbilisi has resulted in injured representatives of the media. According to their reports, the law enforcement officers were target-shooting the journalists even when their status as media workers performing their professional duties was evident.

On June 13, 2019, the chairman of the Parliament of Georgia and the Georgian National Communications Commission spread information on amendments to the Law on Broadcasting of Georgia with the purpose of regulating hate speech. The amendments are planned to be passed by July 1, 2019. Georgia’s obligation to implement audiovisual media Directive has been indicated as the basis for that.

According to media reports, homophobic rally activists are preventing and threatening the journalists who are covering the events taking place at the Chancellery. The incidents occurred against journalists of Netgazeti, Liberali, Radio Tavisufleba, Adjara TV, TV Pirveli and Rustavi 2.

According to “Netgazeti”, a participant of the homophobic rally snatched the mobile phone of the "Netgazeti" reporter, Giorgi Diasamidze, and threw it to the ground. As Giorgi Diasamidze said, the process was observed by the police but they did not react in any way. “Do you want me to smash this phone onto your head?" ... "I have memorized your face" –these words were used by members of the counter rally arranged near the Chancellery to threaten Lika Zakashvili, the Editor of Liberali, and another journalist of the same publication.  According to the edition, the police arrested that participant of the rally after the incident. "How stupid you are!" – in this way the businessman Levan Vasadze addressed the Nino Khozrevanidze, the journalist of Adjara TV, when the reporter asked him why they had showed up at the rally as their appearance caused the confrontation.

According to TV Company Odishi, on May 14, representatives of "Georgian Dream" opposed their respondent, Sandra Roelofs, Zugdidi mayoral candidate of the United Opposition, when filming the TV program "Lustration” in the garden of the Zugdidi Historical Museum. The camera crew was verbally and physically assaulted. The TV Company has released video footage of the incident.

With this statement signatory non-governmental organizations would like to express our strong negative attitude towards the initiative of two members of the Advisory Board of the Adjara Public Broadcaster on the impeachment of Natia Kapanadze, Director of Adjara TV and Radio.