Mindia Gabadze

Affiliated media: Publika.g, Journalist

Incident date: December 6, 2024

Attack type:

• Non-fatal attack / beating / injury / torture

Who attacked: Unknown sources

Source: Safety of journalists platform

Location: Georgia, Tbilisi

Additional information:

On 6 December 2024, Mindia Gabadze, a journalist of Publika.ge, was assaulted by unidentified individuals. A few minutes after the incident, Gabadze told Radio Tavisupleba (RFE/RL) that one individual initially punched him in the face, and then several others joined in and hit him. "Activists arrived at the 'Blue Gallery,' where the artists' protest was ongoing. At that moment, I simply stepped aside, uploading materials and performing my journalistic duties, when someone approached me. I looked at them, and they said, 'Why are you looking at me?' Then they came closer and hit me very hard – so hard that, I think, my eyebrow split open," he said. Gabadze was wearing a press badge and was clearly identifiable as a journalist. Footage published online shows several persons shouting at police officers in the vicinity, urging them to take action but the officers got into their car and closed the doors. Gabadze sustained injuries to his face and a concussion and was hospitalized.