Four Georgian TV Channels Suspend Broadcasting, Issue Clear Demands

Four opposition television channels in Georgia—Mtavari, Pirveli, Formula, and Kavkasia—have suspended their broadcasting for 24 hours. This was reported by the Georgia Online website.

The channels are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and punishment for those responsible for the attacks on protesters and journalists in Tbilisi on July 5 and 6.

During the funeral of Lexo Lashkarava, an operator who was brutally beaten on July 5 and died days later, regional television stations also halted broadcasting for 10 minutes.

Lexo Lashkarava was severely beaten by opponents of an LGBTQ march and passed away days later. After the beating, he was hospitalized, underwent surgery, and spent several days in the hospital.

It is worth noting that the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that the operator's death could have been due to drug abuse. Lashkarava's relatives and colleagues have denied these allegations.