TV Cameraman Dies After Being Brutally Beaten By Anti-LGBTQ Mob

A 37-year-old television cameraman in Georgia has died after he received injuries from an attack by anti-LGBTQ protesters last week in the capital city of Tbilisi, his station revealed Sunday.

Alexander Lashkarava from the independent station TV Pirveli was found dead in his bed early Sunday, The Guardian reported, citing the cameraman's station. The cause of his death was not disclosed.

Lashkarava was among the people — including 50 journalists — who were attacked last Monday by anti-LGBTQ groups protesting against a planned Pride march in Tbilisi.

Activists had planned the event, dubbed the "March for Dignity," shrugging off criticism from the nation's church and conservatives who said that the march had no place in Georgia, Reuters earlier reported. It was, however, canceled after counter-protestors stormed the campaigner's office and attacked both activists and journalists.

Lashkarava had sustained fractures to his facial bones from the attacks. Other journalists also received injuries including concussions, chemical burns and broken arms, according to non-profit press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders.

The cameraman had to undergo surgery for his injuries, but he was discharged from a hospital Thursday, Deutsche Welle reported.

Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs announced Sunday that a criminal investigation into Lashkarava's death has been opened, according to the German outlet. The ministry later said that Lashkarava's "professional activities were illegally obstructed by threats of violence" during the Monday attacks, Reuters reported.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the country's parliament and the office of its ruling party, Georgian Dream, Sunday to call for the resignations of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri over Lashkarava's death, according to Reuters.

Garibashvili’s government has been accused of orchestrating a "violent campaign" against journalists, The Guardian reported.

"The government not only encourages violence against journalists, it is part of the violence," TV Pirveli news editor Nodar Meladze was quoted as saying by The Guardian. "The government has set up violent groups to attack independent media."

Georgia President Salome Zourabichvili took to Twitter Sunday to address Lashkarava's death, saying she had visited the cameraman's family.

"What happened is a tragedy and I send my condolences to the entire media community and to all of Georgia," Zourabichvili posted on the social media platform. "[Lashkarava's death] must be investigated and those responsible must be punished."