Foreign officials about Tbilisi Pride: we stand together for right of everyone to live free, equal
On June 17, ruling party chair Irakli Kobakhidze said he thinks LGBTQI+ individuals] 'must not be allowed' to conduct Tbilisi Pride’ and that this would be a responsible decision. Photo: Tbilisi Pride archive
Tweet 
Share
The diplomatic corps and international organisations have express their solidarity with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) individuals 'in support of equality and human rights for everyone in Georgia'.
In a joint statement issued earlier today the foreign officials urge the Georgian authorities ‘to secure the right to peaceful assembly for all people in Georgia without exception, and to enable these events to take place without participants having to fear becoming victims of hatred and violence’.
???????? Statement by UN, EU Delegation to Georgia, Embassies of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the United States, Head of EUMM on #PrideWeek https://t.co/nsUl0Gpl0H
— UN in Georgia (@ungeorgia) June 30, 2021
The signatories of the statement include the European Union delegation, the embassies of EU member states, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the United Nations in Georgia, and the Head of the EU Monitoring mission.
The Constitution of Georgia guarantees everyone’s right to assemble publicly and to the freedom of expression. This includes the right of LGBTIQ+ people to organise manifestations, public events, and their right to speak publicly about matters of their interest or concern”, the statement reads.
It further says that Georgia’s landmark Law on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination of 2014 rests on the principle of equality as enshrined in the Constitution and prohibits all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.
All States have a duty to facilitate and protect the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. It includes a duty to facilitate assemblies at the organisers’ preferred location and to protect assembly organisers and participants from those who may seek to undermine their rights”, the signatories note.
They also refer to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which affirm that ‘no human right may be invoked to destroy another human right’.
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified social and economic dividing lines, and deepened marginalization and invisibility of many people in Georgia. Exercising the rights to freedom of assembly and of expression are essential in empowering people to overcome their exclusion from political, economic and social life”, the foreign officials explain.
Stating that ‘public assemblies are at the heart of a functioning democracy’ they further reiterate their prior call on the Georgian state, political, civic and religious leaders ‘to fight all forms of discrimination and prejudice, to take all possible measures to prevent violence and to instead embrace a respectful and compassionate public discourse’.
Tbilisi Pride, a civic movement which opposes homo/transphobia and fights to overcome it through exercising the constitutional right of assembly and manifestation, has scheduled Tbilisi Pride for July 1-5, which includes the Queer Fest and the March for Dignity.
???? #TbilisiPride2021 will take place during 1-5 July, consisting of events, including: Queer Fest and March for Dignity.
— Tbilisi Pride (@TbilisiPride) June 4, 2021
❗On 5th of July we march for #Solidarity with partner social movements.
✊ Our #Pride is political and we need international solidarity as well. Join us! pic.twitter.com/Rle1zCGqfC
On June 17, ruling Georgian Dream party chair Irakli Kobakhidze told TV Pirveli media outlet that the organisers of Tbilisi Pride should not have planned the events 'considering the current situation in the country and the context.’
Stating that the such demonstrations are ‘peaceful tools’ for political advocacy and one way in which the universal right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly is crystallised, 30 members of European Parliament call on the Georgian Interior Ministry to ensure ‘sufficient and effective protection’ of Tbilisi Pride participants.
Thirty MEPs have called for the Georgian Interior Ministry to ensure ‘sufficient and effective protection’ of Tbilisi Pride participants between 1-5 July.
Civic platforms No to Phobia, Coalition for Equality and other civic organisations have responded to statements by Irakli Kobakhidze, the chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party and David Sergeenko, member of the same party, which concern the pride parade planned by Tbilisi Pride and partner organisations to take place on July 5.
The head of the ruling Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze says that the organisers of Tbilisi Pride should not have planned the events 'considering the current situation in the country and the context.’
Right-wing businessman Levan Vasadze, who has recently founded political movement Unity, Essence, Hope, has urged the government to cancel Tbilisi Pride events between 1-5 July.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has stated that the participants of Tbilisi Pride should use their constitutional right to free expression within the law. Zurabishvili said that violence and the use of hate speech is unacceptable in the country, which ‘has always been distinguished’ by its tolerance. Tbilisi Pride events, which aim to boost the public’s awareness of problems and needs of the LGBT community, begin today and are scheduled to be completed by a march in central Tbilisi on July 5.
Twelve individuals have been detained earlier today for trying to disrupt film screening on the first day of Tbilisi Pride. The Georgian Interior Ministry has released a statement earlier today, promising to ensure the safety measures during the pride by maintaining the rule of law and ensuring the right to the freedom of expression and assembly of each person.
Twenty individuals detained on July 1 for attempting to disrupt Tbilisi Pride events have been released today, reports the Georgian Interior Ministry.
The Georgian Patriarchate says the ‘drastic interference’ of foreign officials ‘in our public and spiritual life’ through supporting Tbilisi Pride events ‘is a matter of severe concern and [is] unacceptable’. The patriarchate has previously called on the members of the European Parliament and diplomats in Georgia to refrain from supporting and encouraging Tbilisi Pride.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili says that the conduct of the Tbilisi Pride march at 6 p.m. today ‘is not reasonable’ because it may lead to civic confrontation.’
Individuals protesting the Tbilisi Pride march scheduled for 6 p.m. later today are now gathering in central Tbilisi for a counter rally, following the calls of the Patriarchate and right-wing groups. Both sides say that there might be a clash and urge police to ensure safety. Right-wing activist Guram Palavandishvili has stated that the police may stand by the Tbilisi Pride participants which may irritate the public and spark tension.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan says that the authorities are responsible for providing a peaceful environment for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights, including the right to assembly, the right to freedom of expression and the right for journalists to practice their profession in a safe environment.
The Georgian Government’s responsibility to safeguard the rights to peaceful assembly of LGBTQI+ persons, prevent discrimination and violence and ensure commemoration of IDAHOBIT, the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia “openly and publicly” were stressed by the diplomatic missions in Georgia on Monday.