US calls Georgia to protect journalists exercising freedom of press

Washington calls on the Georgian authorities to investigate the use of violence by participants of the anti-LGBT rally in Tbilisi on July 5, the US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said, answering a reporter’s question regarding the death of Georgian journalist Lekso Lashkarava, Report informs.

“We extend our deepest condolences to your former colleague Lekso Lashkarava, to his family, loved ones, and of course to his colleagues, yourself included. We’re closely following the reports concerning his death. We do call for calm and an end to the violence that has already caused one tragic loss of life, in this case the death of your colleague,” Ned Price said.

“The safety of every Georgian journalist and the credibility of democracy in Georgia, in fact, require that every individual who attacked peaceful protesters and journalists on July 5th and 6th or those who incited violence – they must be identified; they should be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We remind Georgia’s leaders and its law enforcement of their responsibility to protect all of those exercising their constitutional rights. We remind them of their responsibility to protect journalists exercising the freedom of press – of the press. And we encourage all Georgians, including Georgian officials, to publicly condemn this type of violence that has no place in a democracy.”

The State Department spokesperson noted that when it comes to the prime minister and his future, that, of course, is a decision for the Georgian people.