PM Garibashvili: "We will adopt anti-discrimination law"
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Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili believes the anti-discrimination Bill, which is being strongly criticized by the Georgian Orthodox Church, will definitely be adopted. He explained the core essence of the law and said it would not encourage or allow any illegal activity.
Garibashvili said there was a need for more communication with the wider society to "explain properly” what exactly the Bill envisaged.
"Of course we will adopt the anti-discrimination Bill and I want to explain to the public that we, our Government – and I am responsible for that – will never adopt a legislation which may pose a threat to the national interests of our country or to our country’s security or to our traditions and values,” Garibashvili told journalists on Wednesday.
He said the focus of the Bill was about the expression of the rights of people with different sexual orientation.
"This Bill does not envisage propaganda or special privileges and rights granted to those people with a different sexual orientation. The Bill will regulate the issues like the rights of other people, as well as the rights of disabled people,” he said.
He expressed concern about the Patriarchate’s statement said the the "Patriarch was a wise person and knows very well what he does”.
"At the same time we know it very well where we are going to – we have an ambition and motivation to make our country a modern, powerful state once and for all,” Garibashvili said.
Garibashvili also stressed that adoption of this legislation was important as the country embarked on the path of receiving short-term visa-free rules with the European Union.
"One of the advantages that we will have within the next two years after the adoption of this Bill, which is also a requirement, is a visa-free regime with the European Union,” he said.
The Georgian Orthodox Church condemned the anti-discrimination Bill said it supported the "propaganda and legalization” of a "deadly sin” and called on the Georgian Parliament to postpone its adoption.
The second hearing of the Bill is expected to take place today in Parliament.
Hampering the adaptation of the anti-discrimination law will lead to the postponement of the visa liberalization process, said the European Union (EU) representative in Georgia today.
Head of the Georgian Parliament has spoken out about the anti-discrimination draft law currently being debated in Parliament.
The President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili has made his first comments about the anti-discrimination draft law currently being debated in Parliament.
Georgia’s anti-discrimination draft law is remaining in the spotlight as Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili says the new law will not legalise "any illegal activity".
Parliament Speaker Davit Usupashvili is appealing to the Georgian society not to yield certain groups of speculation regarding the heavily discussed anti-discrimination law.
The anti-discrimination draft law has been discussed at the meeting betweem members of the Parliamentary majority and representatives of the Georgian Orthodox Church today in a bid to clarify misunderstandings surrounding the Bill.
Parliament of Georgia has passed a bill to eliminate all forms of discrimination with 112 votes in favor and none against.
Parliament has adopted the Anti-Discrimination Bill with 104 votes to one with its third and final hearing today, May 2.
The President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili signed the Anti-Discrimination law today.
The "Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination" legislation went into force after it has been published on the state online registry Legislative Herald of Georgia on May 7.
European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule said the most important step for Georgia in the immediate future was to sign the Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union (EU).