Brutal Attack on Opposition Members and TV Pirveli Crew as Repression Intensifies
In another episode of escalating repression in Georgia, on December 7 the titushky (thugs allegedly affiliated with authorities) violently attacked TV Pirveli journalist Maka Chikhladze and a cameraman Giorgi Shetsiruli and raided the office of the opposition Coalition for Change political alliance, beating at least two of its members- Koba Khabazi and Data Petridis.
The attacks happened at around 10:00 pm on December 7, just as the protest rally against GD’s U-turn on EU accession process and growing repressions, was taking place around the corner, on Rustaveli avenue.
The live footage broadcast by Pirveli TV showed the titushky attack the channel’s crew which arrived at Besiki street after receiving information about beatings of people by titushky in the area. The footage shows Maka Chikhladze being attacked from behind and thrown onto the ground as she is trying to protect the cameraman. Another video, taken apparently by a witness, shows cameraman Giorgi Shetsiruli laying on the ground and being brutally kicked by 6-7 men. The perpetrators snatched the camera from the cameraman and the microphone from the journalist. The items were not returned to the media representatives.
Meanwhile the witnesses said the patrol police who was nearby had no reaction to the violence attack.
The footage taken minutes before the incident shows smooth coordination between the police and titushky as they apparently discuss the course of action, with police cars blocking the way into the street while giving way to titushky to enter freely.
After the attack on journalists, the titushky clad in black, their faced covered in masks burst into the Coalition for Change office, where at least 20 government-paid thugs battered two of the members of the Coalition who were in the hallway, throwing them on the floor and kicking them.
Special Investigation Service said it opened an investigation into the attack, however several hours after the attack no police or SIS personnel were seen on the crime scene.
Following the attack on Coalition for Change members and TV Pirveli journalists by titushky GD officials, including executive secretary of GD Mamuka Mdinaradze, denied the responsibility, saying the attack was instigated by the opposition itself and is “in the interest of those who needs chaos and unrest.”
The President of Georgia reacted to the attack and wrote on her X account, under hashtag “terrorinGeorgia”: “The brutal regime of Georgian Dream no longer hides its true face, even on live TV. Unthinkable and escalating terror against the media – violence and brutal beatings of journalists simply doing their job!”
Police violence during the recent protests has been characterized by the brutality of reprisals against and targeted attacks on journalists. The December attack on the TV Pirveli journalist takes on a new light taking into account that Maka Khikhladze is the author of the recently aired TV exposé on Ioseb (Soso) Margvelashvili, the “right hand” of the notorious chief of the MIA’s Special Tasks Department, Zviad Kharazishvili. Margvelashvili is the head of one of the so-called “death squads” that disperse and then hunt down demonstrators in the streets of Tbilisi.
The TV report aired last week details his unit’s methods, including the beatings of detained demonstrators, and proves his involvement in the recent violent dispersals, in which everyone, including himself, wearing the black masks, is unidentifiable. However, the cameraman from TV Pirveli managed to film him putting on a mask, with his face clearly visible, just before the dispersal of one of the recent rallies on Chichinadze Street, near the parliament building.
Follow our Chronicle of Repression to find out more.
Also Read:
- 03/12/2024 – Watchdog Details “Inhuman and Degrading Treatment” Against Protesters by Police
- 03/12/2024 – Civil Society Foundation Calls for Immediate Stop to Police Violence
- 02/12/2024 – GYLA: Instead of Maintaining Law and Order, MIA Commits Crimes
- 01/12/2024 – CSOs: Physical Force Used Against Protesters Amounted to Torture
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