"We'll go to Strasbourg if we have to" - TI will defend in court the rights of 24 journalists affected on July 5

Another Lawsuit in Defense of Journalists Affected on July 5 - Transparency International Georgia Appeals to Tbilisi City Court to Protect Journalists Affected by the July 5 2021 Events against Mtavari, Formula and TV Pirveli, and On.ge to whom the State Has Not Fulfilled Its Constitutional Duty and Has Not Ensured Their Safe Operation.

The lawsuit is directed against the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, which failed to protect the health of journalists from aggression and attacks by aggressive groups on July 5, 2021, and did not provide proper conditions for their professional activities.

"It is very important that the state and individual agencies fulfill their obligations under the constitution and the law. In this case, they have not done so, and we are ready to sue in all instances, review this case and travel to Strasbourg if necessary," said Eka Gigauri.

Also Transparency International-Georgia is going to file another lawsuit in the nearest future for the compensation of the material damage caused to the TV companies in connection with the destruction of equipment during the July 5 attacks.

"It is very important that on the one hand we restore the status quo that we had before July 5-6, but the most important thing is that this is a preventive measure, so that the government knows that you cannot take such punitive measures without a response. ", said Nika Gvaramia, CEO of the Mtavari Channel.

Zurab Gumberidze, CEO of Formula TV says that even a year after the tragic events of July 5-6 there has been no proper legal response to the facts and no question of political responsibility of the minister of internal affairs. The main message of the media managers is to fight to the end against attacks and violence against the media.