(Read full article on civil.ge)

Transparency International Georgia is filing a lawsuit in the Tbilisi City Court against the Interior Ministry to defend the rights of the journalists that suffered injuries during homophobic pogroms on July 5, 2021.

Overall 24 journalists from three TV channels — Mtavari Arkhi, Formula, and TV Pirveli – and an online outlet On.ge will demand the recovery of the non-pecuniary loss, “as the state failed to fulfill its constitutional duty to ensure the safety of their activity.”

TI Georgia said today that the lawsuit is based on documented evidence including six-hour-long video material and more than 400 pages, as well as additional information obtained from the Interior Ministry about the police measures undertaken on July 5.

Speaking at today’s press conference, Eka Gigauri, the head of TI Georgia, said that the organisation possesses “authentic evidence” that the Interior Ministry had all possible means to protect journalists, but the Ministry “did not use these resources.”