The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia is committed to ensuring the safety of every protester and journalist present at events. However, when protests turn violent, the risk of injury increases for all participants, including the media, Deputy Interior Minister Alexander Darakhvelidze acknowledged following the reports of injuries sustained by journalists during the protest on Rustaveli Avenue.

Darakhvelidze described the situation as “very unfortunate.” He reported that while several journalists were injured, police officers and protesters also sustained injuries.

“Protests characterized by violence pose significant risks. Although there was no intent for targeted harm, certain incidents resulted in injury. We urge all participants not to exceed the boundaries of peaceful assembly,” he stated.

He emphasized the importance of adhering to international standards aimed at maximizing the safety of media representatives. This includes proper identification to facilitate timely responses to any potential attacks, including those from protesters.

“This is a general recommendation, not specific to this incident, and efforts in this regard need to be ongoing,” Darakhvelidze noted.

He further remarked that the previous night was challenging, noting that the police had to respond to aggressive actions throughout the night, including stone-throwing and the setting of barricades and fires.

“This was not a peaceful protest. The police were compelled to enforce the law in response to these violent actions,” he explained.

Additionally, Darakhvelidze clarified that the Ministry of Internal Affairs cannot investigate actions taken by its own personnel.

“In cases involving crimes against journalists, the law specifies that even if a citizen commits such a crime, the Ministry cannot investigate; this falls under the jurisdiction of the Special Investigation Service. While they have released information on this matter, it would be inappropriate for me to discuss specifics that belong to another agency’s competency. We operate within a defined legal framework, and there is no requirement for police to have identifying data during operations. Our priority is to ensure that every perpetrator of a crime is held accountable,” he concluded.