Tbilisi Situation Escalates as Police Arrest Protest Participants

A rally has started in front of the Georgian Parliament building in connection with the death of Pirveli TV operator Lexo Lashkarava. Participants of the protest are demanding, "The murderous government must resign." Clashes are reported with the police, and law enforcement is conducting arrests.

According to the organizers of the rally, their demands include the immediate resignation of Irakli Garibashvili's government, an investigation conducted by independent experts, the arrest and punishment of all those responsible for the attack on Lexo Lashkarava, as well as holding accountable those who organized the violence. It is recalled that operator Lexo Lashkarava was found dead at his home. An investigation has been launched under Article 115 of the Georgian Criminal Code.

Lashkarava received treatment in the hospital for several days after being beaten, from which he later was discharged. On July 5, a march was planned for representatives of the LGBTQ community in Tbilisi, but defenders of traditional values organized a rally in the city center to prevent the march from taking place. During the coverage of the rally, 50 media representatives were injured.