19 of the 27 people arrested on charges of harassing media professionals and obstructing their professional activities on July 5 were sentenced to prison.
The detainees were charged under Article 154 (unlawful interference with a journalist’s professional activities), Article 156 (persecution) and Article 225 (participation in organized gang violence) of the Criminal Code. Part of the detainees were charged under Section 3 of the Criminal Code (intentional minor damage to health).
6 individuals were sentenced to imprisonment and 1 was individual was fined for the attack on Rustavi 2 cameraman Beka Atabegashvili, Mtavari Arkhi journalist Dea Mamiseishvili and cameraman Davit Akhaladze, Formula journalist Rati Tsverava, Imedi journalist Dimitri Krimlishvili and cameraman Shota Kervalishvili, Tabula journalist Maka Jabua, Radio Tavisufleba journalist Tornike Mandaria and operator Davit Koridze.
Romeo Kekutia, Giorgi Kakhiani, Giorgi Naskidashvili and Zaza Mchedlidze were sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison, Ilia Kebadze and Temur Kharauli were sentenced to 1 year and 2 months, and Ushangi Datunashvili was fined 5,000 GEL.
Judge Konstantine Kopaliani found seven people accused of violence against Formula photographer Vakhtang Kareli, Public Broadcaster Ilia Tvaliashvili, New Post photographer Zurab Tsertsvadze, and Rustavi 2 journalist Tamar Tatarashvili.
Tedo Burduli, Giorgi Khechuashvili and Geno Germanishvili were sentenced to 3-3 years in prison, Giorgi Tseruashvili and Giorgi Maghradze to 1 year and 3 months, and Murad Devlarishvili and Zaza Chaava to 1 year in prison.
The trial of 6 people accused of violence against TV Pirveli journalist Miranda Baghaturia and cameraman Lekso Lashkarava was held today. Judge Nino Elieshvili found all six persons – Akaki Nakashidze, Tsotne Chikhladze, Davit Kutaladze, Tornike Davlasheridze, Otar Gelashvili and Gia Giguashvili guilty – and sentenced them to 5-5 years in prison.
In parallel with the trial, two rallies were held in front of the Tbilisi City Court – a rally organized by journalists demanding the punishment of those accused of violence against Lekso Lashkarava and a rally in support of those accused of violence. Police were mobilized on the spot and the two rallies were separated by barriers.
