The announcement of the guilty judgement against those accused of violence against journalists and cameramen in the Tbilisi Court of Appeal was followed by noise from the detainees.

In addition, the family members and relatives of the detainees insulted prosecutors and journalists, and tried to damage journalists’ video cameras.

The situation was defused by the employees of the security service.

The Tbilisi Court of Appeal found persons accused of physical violence against journalists and cameramen, including TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, guilty, through all of them have been cleared of charges of organizing the violence.

With the said decision, judge Maia Tetrauli partially changed the decision of the court of first instance and reduced the sentence of the convicts. In particular, the judge acquitted the defendants of actions provided for by Article 225 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to the organization of violence, but found them guilty of actions provided for by Article 126 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to violence.

Accordingly, Akaki Nakashidze, Tornike Davlasheridze, Davit Kutaladze, Otar Gelashvili, Tsotne Chikhladze and Gia Giguashvili have been sentenced to 4 years in prison.

None of the detainees have admitted their guilt so far.

In the mentioned case, the state prosecution presented evidence, including video recordings showing violence against journalists. In addition, the Prosecutor's Office questioned a number of witnesses, including law enforcement officers, who described in detail the violence committed by the defendants.

27 people are arrested on charges of violent actions committed against media representatives and obstruction of their professional activities on July 5, 2021, on Rustaveli Avenue. The case has 56 victims, including 47 journalists.