PM Bakhtadze on Tbilisi Pride: human rights, including LGBT rights, are protected
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says that sexual minorities face no serious problems in Georgia. Photo: Prime Minister’s press office.
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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.”
Bakhtadze made the statement in response to recent rallies and unrest related to the LGBT pride event which is scheduled to take place this week.
I, as an ordinary citizen of Georgia, believe that this issue [Tbilisi Pride, which aims to raise the public awareness regarding the rights of sexual minorities] is artificially exacerbated. I believe that the [claim that the LGBT community faces problems] is exaggerated and serves the goal of Georgia having a more aggressive atmosphere” Bakhtadze said.
He stated that the protection of LGBT rights is not problematic.
The most painful issues we have today are poverty and occupation,” Bakhtadze said.
He said that Georgia’s aggressive political atmosphere is in the interests of the enemy, mentioning Russia.
Everyone who will act unlawfully will be held accountable,” Bakhtadze said, citing the most recent statement of the Georgian Interior Ministry on the formation of illegal patrol groups to oppose LGBT events in the city.
Read more about Tbilisi Pride and recent developments around the issue here.
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.
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.
LGBT activists 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.
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.”
Businessman Levan Vasadze, who had earlier called for anti-LGBT activists to form ‘patrols’ to prevent events for Tbilisi Pride, says no such groups will be formed for now. The decision came after the statement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs earlier yesterday.
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.
Turmoil around the first Tbilisi Pride - a week-long event dedicated to the rights of LGBT individuals - continues as organisers decided yesterday to hold the events despite threats coming from nationalist groups. the organisers said earlier today that LGBT march will not be held on the central streets of Tbilisi.
The March of Dignity will be the final event of Tbilisi Pride Week and will be held tomorrow. Organisers of the event called on supporters through their social media channels to join the march, which was postponed amid the protest rallies in Tbilisi.