29-11-2024
Georgia
Riot Police
Interference with professional duties
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.
29-11-2024
40
Detention/Arrest | Physical injury | Physical violence | Verbal insult
Riot Police
Interference with professional duties
Georgia