12 detained while trying to disrupt Tbilisi Pride events
Violent homophobic groups attempted to attack on local activists and foreign guests, who have openly expressed their support and solidarity to Tbilisi Pride. Photo: Mzia Saganelidze/RFERL
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Twelve individuals have been detained earlier today for trying to disrupt film screening on the first day of Tbilisi Pride.
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.
Tbilisi Pride has tweeted:
Alt-right group “Alt-info” started unrest near the territory of our ongoing #TbilisiPrideWeek first event. @MiaofGeorgia must ensure our & our guests’ safety. #TbilisiPride21
— Tbilisi Pride (@TbilisiPride) July 1, 2021
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.
The interior ministry has tweeted:
Statement of Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding preventive measures planned by the agency in connection with the scheduled events within the framework of “Tbilisi Pride” Week.https://t.co/zNr7y6HRrk
— MIA of Georgia (@MIAofGeorgia) July 1, 2021
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria said that the statements made by far-right and violent groups, containing threats against the LGBT+ community and their supporters, need special attention and appropriate legal response.
Public Defender’s Statement on March of Dignity https://t.co/KDhcEKmCwN
— Ombudsman of Georgia (@Ombudsman_Geo) July 1, 2021
Foreign officials have meanwhile expressed their support and solidarity to Tbilisi Pride.
European Union lead spokesperson Peter Stano has tweeted:
Georgia: ???????? underlines the importance of ensuring and respecting fundamental rights & freedoms for all - including freedom of assembly for LGBTIQ+ in ????????. #Tolerance is a key European value #Pride2021 https://t.co/lxDFsMCh9G
— Peter Stano (@ExtSpoxEU) July 1, 2021
Ambassador of the United Kingdom Mark Clayton says 'the right to live with dignity, free from violence & discrimination is universal'.
დავესწარი ???????? ფილმის ჩვენებას. ???????? LGBT+ თემი იბრძვის თავისუფლებისა და თანასწორობის იმავე ხარისხისთვის რაც სხვებს აქვთ. ღირსეული, ძალადობისგან & დისკრიმინაციისგან თავისუფალი ცხოვრების უფლება უნივერსალურია. მივესალმები სამართალდამცავთა ძალისხმევას რომ ჩვენებას მშვიდობიანად ჩაევლო. https://t.co/LUvGNtz3ax
— Mark Clayton (@MarkClaytonFCDO) July 1, 2021
Ambassador of France Diego Colas has meanwhile hailed a 'very professional handling of the evening by law enforcement'.
Beautiful event, inspiring movie about ????️???? rights and more broadly about HR, diversity, modernity in ????????.
— Diégo Colas (@ColasDiego) July 1, 2021
Very professional handling of the evening by law enforcement.
Congratulations to all. https://t.co/GGjAyrtOYc
Queer activists and a co-founder of Tbilisi Pride Tamaz Sozashvili has thanked everyone for support on the first day of the pride amid the violence from homophobic groups.
???? Thank you all for your support! Love will always win! ✊❤️????️???? https://t.co/Zn457imGjJ
— Tamaz Sozashvili (@TamazSozashvili) July 1, 2021
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.
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'.
The Georgian patriarchate has called on thirty members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and diplomats in Georgia to refrain from supporting and encouraging Tbilisi Pride. 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 events for July 1-5.
Thirty MEPs have called for the Georgian Interior Ministry to ensure ‘sufficient and effective protection’ of Tbilisi Pride participants between 1-5 July.
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.
The Georgian Patriarchate has reminded demonstrators protesting the Tbilisi Pride march today that their actions ‘must only be peaceful’ after demonstrators demolished tents on Rustaveli Avenue, threw eggs and bottles at several buildings, attacked journalists and broke into the Tbilisi Pride office.
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.
Law enforcement will “prevent acts of violence” during the planned Tbilisi Pride Week, Georgia’s Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhveidze said on Wednesday after right-wing organisers from Alt-Info media outlet called for a “disruption” of announced events for marking LGBTQ rights starting later this month.