**TV Cameraman Abducted in Tbilisi**
On February 18, a cameraman from TV Pirveli was taken away by masked individuals in Tbilisi. The man, Lasha Jioshvili, was participating in a protest on Rustaveli Avenue against the Georgian Dream Party.
According to eyewitnesses, around ten people dressed in civilian clothes forced Jioshvili into a vehicle. He was later arrested under Article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for allegedly disobeying police orders.
**Protest and Arrest**
The protest was marking the birthday of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the Georgian Dream Party. Protesters released black balloons, burned Ivanishvili’s photos, and chanted slogans against the party.
Jioshvili was carrying a banner with a message about condoms during the protest. After his arrest, he was heard saying “They are putting something in my pocket” in witness video footage.
**Concerns Over Treatment**
The cameraman’s lawyer, Tornike Migineishvili, has raised concerns over Jioshvili’s treatment. He said that multiple procedural violations occurred during the detention, including failure to read Jioshvili’s rights and denial of contact with his lawyer and family.
Migineishvili also stated that the Public Defender’s office has documented threats made against Jioshvili by law enforcement officers, and evidence suggests that disproportionate force was used during the arrest.
**Reactions**
The Media Advocacy Coalition has condemned the detention as “illegal and violent,” demanding Jioshvili’s immediate release. The coalition noted that over a hundred cases of violence, threats, and obstruction of media activities have been documented since protests began in November 2024.
Some Georgian Dream Party MPs were asked to comment on the incident, but their responses raised more questions than answers.
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