“Palitra Media” holding releases statement

About 250 people, including 33 journalists, were injured during the June 20-21 developments on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. The journalists were injured while performing their professional duties. Correspondents of “InterPressNews” agency, which is the part of “Palitra Media” holding are among the injured reporters.

Reporters received injuries, primarily from rubber bullets fired by riot police during dispersal of the protest rally.

The nature and quality of the injuries indicate that journalists' health was seriously threatened during the June 20-21 developments and more severe result was likely to have.

No one should forget that journalists cover any acute and dangerous situation from the epicenter of the events in order to reflect any situation accurately and uninterruptedly and provide the society with information about various events. Therefore, they have to work in the most extreme conditions.

We believe that violence in general , and especially against journalists, is concerning and alarming. Illegal interference with journalists' professional duties is punishable by the Criminal Code of Georgia. Law enforcement agencies must be first to adhere to the requirements of the law.

We demand the Ministry of Internal Affairs to investigate all the facts of illegal interference with professional activities of journalists and punish all offenders with the law. The investigation must be as transparent as possible to avoid casting any doubts on it.