The accused in the violence against InterPressNews photo reporter Giorgi Nikolishvili, TV Pirveli cameraman Levan Bregvadze and another citizen will leave the penitentiary institution in 3 months.

According to the decision of Judge Valerian Bugianishvili, the participants of the brutal violence on July 5 will be released within this period.

Only one person, who is accused of violence against the operator of TV Pirveli, will leave the penitentiary institution in 9 months. He had been convicted in the past and was sentenced to several months more than others.

Bugianishvili sentenced the accused - Irakli Tsignadze, Bakar Maisuradze, Nikoloz Dadvani, Mukhran Dadvani, Tornike Gabeliani, Davit Kochiashvili - to 1 year imprisonment, and Vano Burduli to 1 year and 6 months imprisonment.

The participants in the episode of Giorgi Nikolishvili are Bakari Maisuradze, Nikoloz Dadvani, Tornike Gabeliani.

Judge Valerian Bugianishvili removed the classification of participation in organized crime for all persons, and reclassified their charge as participation in violence.

None of the detainees pleaded guilty. The state prosecution in this case had presented a number of pieces of evidence in court, the prosecution questioned a number of witnesses, including law enforcement officers, who described in detail the violence perpetrated by the accused.

InterPresNews photo reporter and TV Pirveli cameraman were severely beaten by protesters on July 5 while on duty. Giorgi Nikolishvili lost consciousness as a result of the attack. He had been in hospital for several weeks with a brain injury, had a severe concussion, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, multiple hematomas. Giorgi Nikolishvili had to go through a long rehabilitation course after leaving the clinic.

For information, a total of 27 people were arrested for violence against media representatives and obstruction of professional activities on Rustaveli Avenue.

They were charged under Article 154 (unlawful interference with a journalist's professional activities), Article 156 (persecution), Part 225 (participation in organized group violence) of the Criminal Code.

Out of 27 detainees, the Tbilisi City Court found all 27 guilty, 26 of whom have been sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, and one of whom was fined 5,000 GEL. The case has 56 victims, including 47 journalists.

source: IPN