UPDATED: LGBT activists leave, conservative groups continue rallying
A group opposing to Tbilisi Pride scheduled on June 18-23 rallies in front of the State Chancellery. Photo: Agenda.ge
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Updated: 02:29, June 15
LGBT activists have left the territory of the Administrative building of the Government of Georgia on mini buses provided by the Interior Ministry after the six-hour peaceful demonstration on Friday.
The activists demanded protection of their rights during the Tbilisi Pride, which is set to be held in Tbilisi between June 18-23 to raise the awareness about sexual minorities.
Conservative groups, who rallied against the LGBT Pride Week, which is the main reason of yesterday’s demonstrations, remain in front of the Chancellery.
Some of the civic activists, including Nata Peradze, who joined the LGBT demonstration later on Friday also stays there.
The LGBT activists said while leaving the territory that they will not surrender but rather continue communication over the next week's issues with the authorities behind the closed doors.
Earlier: 23:35, June 14
Nine people have been detained at today’s rally in front of the Administrative building of the Government of Georgia where the LGBT activists were confronted by the radical conservative groups over the upcoming Tbilisi Pride.
LGBT activists announced earlier on Friday that they would gather in the evening demanding from the state officials, including Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia and Parliamentary Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze, to share their position about the Tbilisi Pride scheduled next week.
The organisers of Tbilisi Pride decided to gather after the Georgian Patriarchate released a statement condemning the pride and calling on the state officials not to support the LGBT propaganda.
However, some radical groups, including a Georgian businessman Levan Vasadze, who has been rather harsh against the LGBT activists and supporters, came to the Administrative building of the Government of Georgia much earlier to hinder the peaceful demonstrators from exercising their right to freedom of assembly and expression.
Photo: Agenda.ge
Police kept the radical groups inside a circle to protect the LGBT activists, who were forced to move a bit below, to the stairs. The activists said they would not leave the place until the state officials make statement and promise they would denounce violence and admit their rights.
Those nine detained by police were from the conservative groups who tried to break the circle to attack the LGBT activists. One of the detainees even assaulted the demonstrators and threw eggs over them, according to interior ministry.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia stated at the end of May that they will be unable to protect the participants of the events if they are to hold activities on the crowded Rustaveli Avenue or on Freedom Square in central Tbilisi, as per the organisers’ programme.
Photo: Agenda.ge
Strategic Communication Advisor to the Prime Minister Irakli Chikovani, who is accompanying Mamuka Bakhtadze in United States told TV Pirveli that he is sure the law enforcers will do their best to avoid further escalation of the situation.
He said the organisers of Tbilisi Pride should continue consultations with the Interior Ministry, which will surely offer them alternative ways to protect their legal rights.
Chikovani also underscored that as PM Bakhtadze is holding meetings with US officials he cannot make any statement now, but he will supposedly share his opinion over the issue as soon as he finishes his trip.
As of now, none of the groups plan to leave the place and keep until their demands are met. The LGBT activists, still sitting on the stairs outside the Administrative building of the Government of Georgia, are waiting for the official statements in their support, while the radical groups claim they will not go home until they make sure Tbilisi Pride will not take place at all.
Photo: Agenda.ge
- LGBT Pride Week is set to be held between June 18-23 in Tbilisi to raise the awareness about sexual minorities.
- The pride event organisers say that they have plans to carry out social campaigns during the week and advocate for policy changes.
- An international conference, a performance and a pride march are scheduled for the pride week.
- Since May 17, 2013, when crowds in central Tbilisi streets harshly opposed LGBT supporters on the Day Against Homophobia, no large-scale event of sexual minorities has been held in the country.
Georgian church urge cancellation of event
LGBT Pride Week is set to be held between June 18-23 in Tbilisi to raise the awareness about sexual minorities. The Georgian Patriarchate has urged the government earlier today not to allow the event to take place, “as it is known beforehand that the event will lead to unrest.”
Georgian national football team captain Guram Kashia has become the first-ever recipient of the UEFA #EqualGame Award, honouring the player’s support of the LGBT community on the field.
According to CoE Georgia has been rated by ILGA-Europe as the 33rd out of 49 European countries in terms of rights protection accorded to LGBTI persons.
What’s May 17 like in Tbilisi?
Police have been on high alert since early morning today as May 17 features two events in Tbilisi: the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) and the Family Purity Day that the Georgian Orthodox Church launched in 2014 to coincide with IDAHOT.
28 people were detained for resisting police officers and other petty hooliganism during last night’s demonstration against Tbilisi Pride in front of the Administrative building of the Government of Georgia. The Georgian Interior Ministry reported today that the detainees tried to break the police corton and threw eggs at the peaceful demonstrators supporting LGBT rights.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has launched an investigation regarding a threat made by businessman Levan Vasadze last week to create self-organised groups in Tbilisi to prevent the holding of LGBT events during upcoming Tbilisi Pride – a week-long event to raise public awareness about the rights of sexual minorities in the country.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says that human rights in Georgia, including those of sexual minorities, are protected and the issue has been “artificially exacerbated.”
Tbilisi Pride will be held despite threats of disruption, event organisers said in a statement released earlier today amid public tension. They say that “informal groups” pose threats to the LGBT events and the state is unable to ensure the rights of supporters and participants of Tbilisi Pride.
The United Nations and the European Union representation in Georgia, along with 28 foreign embassies in the country, on Wednesday welcomed the increased public support for the protection of minority rights in Georgia but expressed concerns of “stalled progress” in ensuring their protection.