Right-wing groups, clergy attack reporters, storm Tbilisi Pride organisers' office ahead of planned queer rights march

Counter-demonstrators gathered outside the Parliament of Georgia on Monday, ahead of the planned Tbilisi Pride march that was to cap week-long events for highlighting queer rights in the city. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

Members of clergy and their parish were seen widely among the groups that gathered to prevent the queer march from taking place, in scenes reminiscent of past counter-demonstrations against LGBTQ community events in the city. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

Brandishing flags of Georgia, those who vowed to not let the queer activists hold their march also wore clothes with varying religious and national symbols outside the parliament building. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

Two of the participants of the demonstration seen dressed in traditional Georgian costumes on Rustaveli Avenue on Monday. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

The right-wing demo saw participation of youth, with some demonstrators even bringing children with them. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

Groups involved in the right-wing gathering violently tore up and removed tents set up in front of the parliament during the preceding days by some political opposition parties for a separate occasion. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

Damaging and removing the tents, they claimed the opposition was supporting the Tbilisi Pride events. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

The first violent acts against individuals on the day took place when the conservative groups and clergy attacked reporters from various channels and outlets who had gathered to cover the anticipated events surrounding Tbilisi Pride. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

The demonstrators attack Formula channel journalist Rati Tsverava. Nearly 50 journalists were reported to have been attacked and received injuries of varying severity during the day, with a demonstrator on a moped also seen driving into reporting crews at high speed on the avenue. Photo via InterPressNews agency.

Police are seen next to Rustavi 2 channel reporter and cameraman on Rustaveli Avenue. Journalists from Rustavi 2, Palitra News, Mtvari Arkhi, TV Pirveli, InterPressNews and the Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty were among those injured. A Polish reporter was also reportedly stabbed in one of the attacks. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

Participants of the anti-queer demonstration are seen on Rustaveli Avenue with messages against Tbilisi Pride events. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

The demonstrators are seen next to the flag of the European Union flying in front of the Parliament of Georgia on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. The groups later removed the flag to raise the Georgian national flag in its place. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

In a second major development of the day, sections of the anti-Tbilisi Pride demonstration attacked the offices of the organisers of the queer march, scaling the balcony of the building before removing the LGBTQ symbols and storming the offices. Photo via Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Participants of the right-wing demo are seen on the balcony of Tbilisi Pride offices after removing the flags of queer activism. They later also thrashed the offices of the movement. Photo via Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

After police led the reporters affected by the violence away from Rustaveli Avenue, those involved in the violent demonstration attended a service at the nearby Kashveti Church and were blessed by the clergy. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.