Number of suspects accused of attack on Lashkarava rises to five

The Georgian police detained David Kutaladze, who became the fifth suspect accused of beating up Lekso Lashkarava, a cameraman of the “TV Pirveli” TV Company.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on July 11, journalists and opposition supporters went to large-scale protests in Tbilisi and other large cities of Georgia. They demand the resignation of the government and an investigation into the death of cameraman Lekso Lashkarava. Some of the protesters in Tbilisi continued their rally in front of the parliament building and stayed there overnight.

According to the police, David Kutaladze attacked a film crew of the “TV Pirveli” TV Company, including Lekso Lashkarava, during a pogrom of the office of the NGO "Ashamed", the TASS reports.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili refused to give in to the protesters’ demands to resign.

“What could be more immoral than an attempt to achieve political goals through the tragedy of a deceased person? The police have already arrested four defendants in the case on beating,” Irakli Garibashvili said on the air of the “Rustavi-2” TV Company.

James Appathurai, the Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, notes on Facebook that the death of the journalist “is deeply disturbing for all friends of Georgia.” Members of the European Parliament Andrius Kubilius and Rasa Juknevičienė called on the Georgian society to show restraint.

Let us remind you that from July 1 to 5, Tbilisi hosted the LGBT Week. On July 5, opponents of the gay pride parade attacked journalists, and 53 reporters were injured. On the evening of July 6, a rally in support of victims of the July 5 violence was held in Tbilisi, while a contraction action of LGBT opponents took place nearby. The actions also escalated into clashes that ended in detentions.