Podcast | A power struggle in Stepanakert and Alt Info’s busy week

18 January 2023

More than a month into the closure of the Lachin corridor, Tigran Grigoryan, a political analyst and the head of the Regional Centre for Democracy and Security, phones in to discuss rumours surrounding the potential resignation of State Minister Ruben Vardanyan.

Nagorno-Karabakh reports gas cut for second time since start of blockade

Mariam Nikuradze breaks down the extremist far-right group Alt Info’s activities this week after a Georgian court reduced the sentences of six men involved in the violent group’s anti-pride riots of 2021, in addition to the group preventing Levan Berdzenishvili, a philologist and political activist, from holding a lecture in eastern Georgia.

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A group of journalists being attacked near the Kashveti Church on Rustaveli Avenue. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.

2021 Homophobic Riot in Tbilisi

Tbilisi court reduces sentences for 2021 anti-Pride rioters

Shota Kincha

••3 min read

The Tbilisi Court of Appeals has reduced the sentences of six men convicted of participating in the July 2021 anti-Pride riots from five to four years. The six men were involved in the attack on TV Pirveli journalist Miranda Baghaturia and camera operator Alexandre Lashkarava. Lashkarava sustained broken facial bones and a concussion during the attack and died several days later, but an official autopsy released six months later claimed he died of a drug overdose. Monday’s ruling partially o

Friends and colleagues pay tribute to Aleksandre Lashkarava at his funeral procession in Tbilisi on 13 July 2021. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.

2021 Homophobic Riot in Tbilisi

Georgian journalist died of heroin overdose following 5 July attack, autopsy claims

Tata Shoshiashvili

••2 min read

Georgian news camera operator Aleksandre Lashkarava died of a heroin overdose less than a week after being attacked by a far-right mob, an official autopsy has concluded. An extract of the autopsy results was provided to OC Media and other media outlets by the Interior Ministry on Friday. They claim that the TV Pirveli camera operator died of severe cardiovascular and respiratory failure caused by heroin intoxication. The 4 of 37 pages of the report released to the press also state that seve

$Aleksandre Lashkarava sustained multiple fractures and a concussion after being attacked on 5 July 2021. Image via TV Pirveli.$

2021 Homophobic Riot in Tbilisi

Georgian authorities fail to produce autopsy 5 months after journalist’s death

Tata Shoshiashvili

••4 min read

The authorities in Georgia have failed to produce the results of an autopsy into the death of TV Pirveli camera operator Aleksandre (Lekso) Lashkarava, who passed away in July after being beaten by far-right groups during a homophobic riot in Tbilisi. Beka Takalandze, a lawyer representing Lashkarava’s family, confirmed to OC Media that they were still awaiting the results. This weekend marked five months since Lashkarava’s death. He passed away at home on 11 July just six days after sustain

Leaders of the new Conservative Movement during their press conference on 20 November. Video grab.

2021 Homophobic Riot in Tbilisi

Demands for ban of new far-right party in Georgia

Shota Kincha

••3 min read

The far-right group in Georgia that was largely responsible for organising the anti-Pride riots in July has unveiled a new political party, leading to calls for it to be banned. On Saturday, Alt Info, which also runs an eponymous TV channel, announced they were establishing the Conservative Movement. A number of rights groups and opposition parties, as well as the Georgian Public Defender, previously called for the leaders of Alt Info to be criminally prosecuted for organising mass violence