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