05 December 2024, 18:13
Journalists get injuries during dispersal of rally in Tbilisi
During the dispersal of the rally held in Tbilisi by supporters of European integration, Luka Tkebuchava and Tedo Kvacakiya, employees of the “Formula” TV Channel, got injuries. Furthermore, it has been reported that an employee of the “Public Broadcaster” was also injured. The confrontation between the police and the protesters continues.
In Tbilisi, for the seventh day in a row, the protest against the suspension of European integration is taking place in front of the Georgian parliament building. The police have used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, pushing them away from the parliament building. The protesters are throwing firecrackers at law enforcers, special forces fighters are using tear gas against the demonstrators, and the protesters are providing assistance to the injured people.
The police are carrying out violent dispersals of the protesters, using tear gas and water cannons, while the protestors are throwing pyrotechnics at law enforcers. By December 3, the number of people detained under administrative articles reached 293, and five others were detained under criminal articles. Activists and oppositionists claim that the police are unreasonably using special means and excessive force against the protesters. On the night of December 3, after the rally was dispersed, 26 injured people were hospitalized, including three policemen. One of the activists, who had a gas capsule hit in his eye, stays in severe condition.
Gigi Bokeriya, the former leader of the “European Georgia” Party, has announced that people should prepare themselves for the fact that the rallies will continue for several months.
The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report about the 2024 election campaign in Georgia.
Tedo Kvacakiya, a cameraman of the “Formula TV” Channel, was injured during the dispersal of the rally in Tbilisi on December 3. The journalist got a head injury, the “Tbilisi Life” Telegram channel reports.
Luka Tkebuchava, another journalist of the “Formula TV” Channel, was also injured: gas capsules hit him in the shoulder and the head.
Furthermore, an employee of the “Public Broadcaster” presumably got an arm injury.
Some of the rally participants appealed to the police. “Where is your courage? You hid behind shields and masks from your own people, and you are beating our children,” one of the protesters expressed his indignation.
“I was walking with my children from a metro station when the police approached and grabbed two guys. What an outrage! Why may people not go to the rally?’ said medic Tamuna, an eyewitness.
The radicalization of the protests, the erection of barricades, and the use of pyrotechnics were provoked by the harsh actions of the special forces during the dispersal of the demonstrators, political analysts interviewed by the “Caucasian Knot” note. Their opponents argue that the protesters are seeking to escalate the situation by provoking law enforcers.
On November 28, the European Parliament refused to recognize the results of the parliamentary elections in Georgia and called for sanctions against the leaders of the “Georgian Dream” Party. On the same day, the country’s Prime Minister announced that Georgia would refuse to negotiate on joining the European Union (EU) until the end of 2028. After that, the protests began in the country. Supporters of European integration have announced the creation of a resistance committee headed by Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 4, 2024 at 03:15 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Beslan Kmuzov Source: СK correspondent
