Four Georgian TV channels stopped broadcasting for 24 hours in protest of violence against journalists
Four TV stations – TV Pirveli, Mtavari Arkhi, Formula and Kavkasia – have stopped broadcasting for 24 hours, silently protesting violence against journalists on July 5 at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally which was followed by the death of TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava.
The TV stations are also demanding the resignation of Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili.
Currently all four TV stations are broadcasting a black screen with a white text reading the names of journalists who were attacked at the July 5 counter rally as well as a statement demanding the resignation of Garibashvili and all those guilty of the violence to be punished.
Head of the Central Criminal Police Mamuka Tchelidze said on July 12 that although an autopsy is still underway to reveal the exact reason for Lashkarava’s death, samples taken from the corpse contained traces of various drugs, including morphine and codeine.
Lashkarava was buried at Jikia cemetery yesterday.