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

Source: www.qartia.ge

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.

The following media representatives were injured:

1. Guram Muradov, photographer, civil.ge, 11 rubber bullet wounds in the back
2. Tamar Bagashvili, reporter, Rustavi 2 TV, bone fracture, rubber bullet wound in the shoulder, medical surgery completed
3. Giorgi Sulashvili, security guard, Rustavi 2 TV, lost an eye as a result of rubber bullet wound, jaw bone fracture, medical surgery completed
4. Tato Gurgenidze, cameraman, Rustavi 2 TV, rubber bullet wounds
5. Levan Melikidze, cameraman, Rustavi 2 TV, rubber bullet wounds
6. Tazo Tkhilishvili, cameraman, Rustavi 2 TV, rubber bullet wounds
7. Teona Tskhomelidze, reporter, Rustavi 2 TV, rubber bullet wound in the thigh
8. Keta Tsitskishvili, reporter, Rustavi 2 TV, minor leg injury
9. Beslan Kmuzov, journalist, Kavkazskiy Uzel, rubber bullet wound in the face
10. Maka (Margarita) Antidze, reporter, Reuters, rib fracture, no bullet wound
11. David Akhaladze, cameraman, TV Pirveli, rubber bullet wound in the nose, body injuries
12. Zurab Kokaia, cameraman, TV Pirveli, rubber bullet wounds in the cheek and abdomen
13. Ketevan Grigorashvili, reporter, TV Pirveli, gas poison, emergency aid provided twice
14. Aleksi Megrelishvili, reporter, TV Pirveli, special forces beat him in the arm with the button
15. Lika Urotadze, reporter, TV Pirveli, rubber bullet wound in the leg
16. David Kajrishvili, driver, TV Pirveli, rubber bullet wound in the eye temple
17. Ana Vakhtangadze, reporter, on.ge, rubber bullet wound in the leg
18. Gela Bochikashvili, reporter, on.ge, several rubber bullet wounds in the chest
19. Gvantsa Nemsadze, reporter, on.ge, rubber bullet wound in the leg
20. Dato Qoqoshvili, reporter, netgazeti.ge, rubber bullet wound in the neck
21. Giorgi Diasamidze, reporter, netgazeti.ge, physically assaulted by law enforcement officers
22. Nick Mukhigulishvili, reporter, Georgian Public Broadcaster, beaten by the law enforcement officers and detained while reporting
23. Giorgi Pachikashvili, cameraman, Georgian Public Broadcaster, facial injury
24. Giorgi Osadze, cameraman, Georgian Public Broadcaster, facial injury
25. Kakha Jonjua, cameraman, Georgian Public Broadcaster, facial injury
26. Lika Alelishvili, reporter, Georgian Public Broadcaster, injury in the leg
27. Mari Nikuradze, reporter, OC Media, rubber bullet wound
28. Giorgi Chumburidze, cameraman, Radio Liberty Georgian Bureau, rubber bullet wound in abdomen
29. Ilia Samurganidi, cameraman, Radio Liberty Georgian Bureau, rubber bullet wound in abdomen
30. Tornike Koshkadze, reporter, interpressnews.ge, rubber bullet wound in the face
31. Eka Abashidze, reporter, interpressnews.ge, rubber bullet wound in the arm
32. Giorgi Khukhia, reporter, Maestro TV, rubber bullet injury
33. Nino Khozrevanidze, reporter, Achara TV and Radio, rubber bullet injuries in the leg and waist

We hereby demand that the  law enforcement representatives who were target-shooting the journalists, even though the latter were identifiable, physically injured them and hampered their professional duties, be identified and brought to criminal justice, in the shortest time possible.

We hereby urge diplomatic corps and international organizations accredited in Georgia to respond to the cases of targeted persecution, infliction of physical injuries, detention of journalists and hindering of their professional duties by the Ministry of Interior in the course of disbanding the protest rally in the Rustaveli Avenue on June 21, 2019.