A cameraman, one of severajournalists beaten during attacks on LGBTQ+ activists in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, earlier this week, has been found dead, a local television station has said.
Hundreds of people have taken to the streets of Georgia's capital calling on the authorities to punish those responsible.
LGBTQ+ campaigners in the South Caucasus country called off a pride march on Monday after violent groups opposed to the event stormed and ransacked their office in Tbilisi and targeted activists and journalists.
Cameraman Alexander Lashkarava, who was beaten up in the incident, was found dead at his home by his mother, TV Pirveli, the channel he worked for, said today. It did not disclose the cause of death.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the parliament and the office of ruling party Georgian Dream to call forthe prime minister and interior minister to resign over the violence and Mr Lashkarava's death.
A woman splashed red paint on the door of a government building in protest.
Mr Lashkarava's death has outraged human rights activists in Georgia, who blame the authorities for emboldening hate groups and failing to keep journalists and LGBTQ+ supporters out of harm's way.
The interior ministry said it was investigating Mr Lashkarava's death, but did not say what caused it.
The ministry said later that Mr Lashkarava's "professional activities were illegally obstructed by threats of violence" during the attacks on LGBTQ+ supporters.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili wrote on Twitter that she had visited Mr Lashkarava's family.
"What happened is a tragedy and I send my condolences to the entire media community and to all of Georgia," she wrote.
"It must be investigated and those responsible must be punished."
More than 50 journalists were targeted in the violence, police said on Monday, prompting Western countries to call on Georgia to ensure freedom of expression and assembly.
The planned pride march, which was called off before it began, had prompted criticism from the church and conservatives, while Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said the march risked causing public confrontation.
