Interference with professional duties

The TV Pirveli crew was physically violently attacked by masked individuals

On December 7, in Tbilisi, on Besiki Street, masked individuals violently attacked the TV Pirveli crew, journalist Maka Chikhladze and cameraman Giorgi Shetsiruli. The incident occurred while the crew was broadcasting live. They were reporting on how masked individuals were ambushing and attacking citizens. In the video footage from the scene, an unknown masked individual is seen sneaking up behind Maka Chikhladze, grabbing her, and throwing her to the ground. Cameraman Giorgi Shetsiruli was kicked in the head. The crew required medical assistance after the attack. “They took the microphone, took the camera, hit both of us, and shouted, ‘What are you reporting, you bastards?’ The police were standing right here, at this spot, when it happened. They failed to react and just walked away. We were attacked and beaten. They’re marauders in black masks,” said Maka Chikhladze.

On December 5-6, two journalists had their work obstructed, and one journalist was physically assaulted

On December 6, while covering a peaceful protest near the Parliament building in Tbilisi, the riot police illegally obstructed the journalistic work of journalists from online media outlet Publika – Natia Amiranashvili and Basti Mgaloblishvili. According to Publika, the journalists were filming the arrests of protesters when some officers tried to seize their phones.
On December 6, While covering a protest near the Blue Gallery, Publika journalist Mindia Gabadze was physically attacked by an unknown individual. A video shows bystanders urging the police to detain the attacker, but the officers failed to take action. Gabadze sustained facial injuries and stated that he had informed the attacker he was a journalist, but the assault continued regardless. He had also been injured earlier, on November 29, while reporting on the dispersal of a peaceful protest.

On December 3-4, 5 media representatives were injured, and their work was obstructed while covering the protest

On December 4, during the dispersal of the protest, TV Formula cameraman Tedo Kvachakhia was injured by tear gas. He received on-site medical assistance from emergency personnel.
On December 4, during the protest on Rustaveli Avenue, the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s First Channel cameraman Beso Gaprindashvili was injured, suffering a hand injury, and was taken to a clinic. According to the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s First Channel, he was hit by fireworks.
On December 4, according to Formula TV, the channel’s journalist, Luka Tkebuchava, was intentionally targeted twice with a gas capsule by the riot police.
On December 4, TV Pirveli journalist Nanuka Kajaia was verbally and physically assaulted by riot police near the Courtyard by Marriott hotel. In addition, the riot police damaged the TV station’s camera.
On December 4, Formula TV journalist Salome Bokuchava was attacked by an officer dressed in black near the Courtyard by Marriott hotel. The officer, who was not wearing the proper insignia, tried to obstruct her journalistic work. She was reporting on the arrest of opposition politicians Aleko Elisashvili and Zurab Datunashvili by the criminal police.

On December 2-3, 7 media representatives were injured, and their work was obstructed while covering the protest

On December 3, during the dispersal of the protest on Rustaveli Avenue, after the riot police used a gas capsule, the TV station’s filming crew was injured – journalist Teona Khubulava and two cameramen, Levan Kartvelishvili and Badri Gamrekelashvili. They received medical assistance on-site from emergency medical personnel.
On December 3, investigative reporter Nino Ramishvili from the media outlet Studio Monitor was filming the beating of a protester when the riot police took away her phone. According to the journalist, she was wearing a press identification badge and had repeatedly informed the officers that she was a journalist, but her phone was not returned.
On December 3, during the dispersal of the protest, the TV Pirveli’s station’s broadcasting equipment was severely damaged, including a camera used for live transmission.
On December 3, Natalie Chkhartishvili from Chaikhana had her Handycam taken from her while she was filming the detention of protesters. She was also yelled at to turn off the camera.
On December 3, Mtavari Arkhi cameraman Givi Mchedlishvili fell unwell while working. During the live broadcast, the channel’s journalist, Dea Mamiseishvili, can be heard asking the protesters if anyone can help the cameraman.
On December 3, according to information provided to MediaChecker, JRC cameraman Bakari Kvavadze was struck in the thigh by a gas capsule.

On November 28-29, During the coverage of the protests 40 members of the media were detained, injured, or obstructed in their professional work

On November 29, TV Formula’s journalist Guram Rogava was brutally assaulted by riot police while working live on air. The riot police struck him from behind, causing him to fall and sustain head and neck injuries. The footage shows the journalist lying on the ground, bleeding. He was later taken to a medical facility. Before this incident, Rogava had been obstructed by police while working live on air. In footage from that time, police can be seen forcibly removing the journalist from the area, covering the camera, and preventing the cameraman from filming.
During the November 29 protest, TV Formula’s journalist Giorgi Kvijinadze and cameraman Tedo Kachakhia were injured. Journalist Khatia Samkharadze was also sprayed with pepper spray.
On November 29, the equipment of TV Formula’s crew, covering the protest in Batumi, was damaged. Tamar Tediashvili mentioned this during a live broadcast.
On November 29, law enforcement officers arrested journalist Aleksandre Keshelashvili of the online outlet Publika while he was performing his professional duties. They confiscated his camera and assaulted him. He was later released on the condition of a written statement and taken to a medical facility for examination. “I kept saying I was a journalist, but it seems that had the opposite effect. They insulted me even more, and then added that I was a journalist. They escorted me through a kind of corridor where they hit me with their hands and feet, mostly in the face. They took my cameras, badge, and respirator. I was passed from one person to the next, with each one hitting me until I was taken from Chichinadze Street through the back of the Parliament grounds and up to 9 April Street, where they put handcuffs on me,” the journalist wrote on social media.

Publika’s journalist Natia Amiranashvili was obstructed by police while filming, and her phone was reportedly damaged during the incident.
Publika photographer Mindia Gabadze was injured by law enforcement officers while performing his professional duties.
Publika journalist Basti Mgablishvili was repeatedly obstructed during the protests and was struck several times.
TV Pirveli cameraman Niko Kokaia was deliberately sprayed in the face with pepper spray by special forces.
TV Pirveli cameraman Giorgi Shetsiruli was physically assaulted by a special forces officer, who attacked him from behind.
TV Pirveli journalist Nanuka Kajaia and cameraman Davit Bichikashvili were also injured during the protests when special forces deliberately sprayed them with a water cannon.
TV Pirveli journalist Ana Mdivani was sprayed in the face with an unknown substance and required medical attention.
Reporters from Mtavari Arkhi, including journalist Dea Mamishvili and cameraman Giorgi Goginashvili, also became unwell due to the tear gas.
Mtavari Arkhi journalist Keta Tsitskishvili, along with fellow journalist Davit Kobidze and cameraman Luka Bachilava, was verbally abused and obstructed by the riot police.
According to Radio Free Europe, journalists Davit Koridze and Salome Chaduneli were physically assaulted during the protests.
Radio Free Europe cameramen Ilia Ratiani and Zuka Khidashvili were obstructed while carrying out their professional duties.
Radio Free Europe journalist Davit Tsagereli was punched and thrown to the ground by a riot officer.
Adjara TV journalist Nino Lorchoshvili lost consciousness while covering the protests, likely due to exposure to pepper spray used by special forces.
Netgazeti journalist Givi Avaliani was sprayed in the face with pepper spray by the riot police.
OC Media founder and photographer Mariam Nikuradze was hit with a water cannon, causing her to fall and damage her camera. She required medical help and later wrote on social media that the riot police had prevented her from filming: “The special forces threw my phone twice, forbidding us to film and insulting us journalists.”
JAMnews reporter Yulia Kalaban was hit by a police officer while attempting to film special forces setting up barricades on Rustaveli Avenue. She needed first aid.
The journalists of Studio Monitor Nino Tsverava and Nino Shubitidze, as well as cameraman Giorgi Baramidze, were obstructed during the protest. Nino Tsverava posted the footage of police violence on social media.
The riot Police physically assaulted Project 64 editor Giorgi Gogua, kicking him in the legs.
A journalist from the pro-governmental TV station Rustavi 2 was injured by a water cannon.
The journalist of Express News Irakli Managadze was kicked by a special forces officer.
April Media photographer Tbilisi Abuseridze was injured when photographing the protest action.
TOK TV journalist Filipe Tsereteli was injured by a gas capsule fired at him. He reported that tear gas capsules were deliberately thrown: “They released about 5 capsules. On Besiki Street, where we were, only journalists were present, around 5-7 people. No protesters were there at that time.”
The cameraman of the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s First Channel Davit Bejanishvili was injured while covering the protests.
Giorgi Chumburidze, a cameraman for Current Time/Radio Free Europe’s Russian news platform, was obstructed while carrying out his work.

During the coverage of the November 30 – December 1 protests, 9 members of the media were detained, injured, or obstructed in their professional work

On December 1, 2024, during the dispersal of a peaceful protest near the Parliament building, 9 representatives of various media outlets were injured. Over the course of three days, a total of 52 journalists, cameramen, and photographers were injured or hindered in their professional activities.

According to publicly available information:

Irakli Gedenidze, a photojournalist from the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s First Channel was injured during the protest. First Channel reported that he was injured by pyrotechnics.

“Mtavari Arkhi” reported that a police officer directed aggressive and offensive language at journalist Keta Tsitskishvili.

Giorgi Shetsiruli, a cameraman for TV Pirveli, was injured while working live on air. According to the TV station, he sustained a serious leg injury and was taken to the clinic.

TV “Formula” reported that their crew got injured by a water cannon, which was used to disperse the protest.

The cameraman from TV “Formula” was also injured during the protest. He reportedly became ill after the gas, which was used to disperse the protest.

Beka Beradze, a producer for Radio Tavisupleba, was beaten and temporarily detained. He was near the protest when he was surrounded by the police. Beradze told his lawyer that he informed the officers he was a journalist, but they still arrested him.

According to the online media platform On.ge, photographer Nikoloz Tabukashvili was arrested during the protest.

Mirian Meladze, a photographer from the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s First Channel, was reportedly injured on Rustaveli Avenue by what is believed to have been a rubber bullet.