15 years ago, on August 7, 2008, Russia started a war against Georgia, resulting in 20% of Georgia's territory remaining under Russian occupation to this day. The war led to the loss of civilian lives, including media representatives who were killed or injured during the five-day war.
During the war, three journalists lost their lives, and 12 others were injured. On August 10, Gia Chikhladze and Alexander Klimchuk, both reporters, were killed and on August 12, Dutch journalist/cameraman Stan Storimans lost his life during a Russian bombardment of Gori.
According to CPJ (Committee to Protect Journalists), a total of 2,202 journalists and media workers have been killed since 1992, with 324 of them being killed in crossfire. Within Georgia, while carrying out their professional duties, 10 journalists and media workers have lost their lives, seven of them in crossfires.
Journalists killed in Georgia since 1992:
· Aleksandre Lashkarava, TV Pirveli, July 11, 2021
· Alexander Klimchuk, Caucasus Images, August 10, 2008 (crossfire)
· Grigol Chikhladze, Caucasus Images, August 10, 2008 (crossfire)
· Stan Storimans, RTL Nieuws, August 12, 2008 (crossfire)
· Georgy Sanaya, Rustavi-2, July 26, 2001
· Antonio Russo, Radio Radicale, October 16, 2000
· Georgy Chanya, Resonants, May 26, 1998 (crossfire)
· David Bolkvadze, Worldwide Television News, October 28, 1993 (crossfire)
· Alexandra Tuttle, The Wall Street Journal, September 22, 1993 (crossfire)
· Andrei Soloviev, ITAR-TASS, September 27, 1993 (crossfire)
