Protestors against Tbilisi Pride March gather downtown for counter rally
Dozens of people have already gathered in central Tbilisi to oppose the Tbilisi Pride march. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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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.
Individual against Tbilisi Pride are demolishing opposition's tents in front of the Georgian parliament building opened in previous days for other occasion, accusing the opposition of supporting Tbilisi Pride. Video: Agenda.ge.
Tbilisi Pride organisers have stated that they are working on safety issues in coordination with the country’s Interior Ministry, and the final plan will be announced earlier today, several hours before the march.
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They say that the coronavirus pandemic has further complicated the conditions of the LGBT community ‘who endure everyday oppression and discrimination and need to make their voice reach their family members, the public and the government.’
Potestors standing in front of the parliament building. Video: Agenda.ge.
The Georgian Patriarchate has criticized the ‘drastic interference’ of embassies and MEPs in ‘Georgia’s public and spiritual life’.
Georgia’s Constitution and laws guarantee the right to equality and dignity, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. We support the freedom of all Georgians, including the LGBTQI+ community, to exercise these rights peacefully. pic.twitter.com/byGbXh1uCR
— U.S. Embassy Tbilisi (@usingeo) July 5, 2021
It is a matter of severe concern (that the embassies and the MEPs support Tbilisi Pride) and it is unacceptable for the church and our citizens, and we believe that it is an abuse of their authority,” said the Patriarchate.
The Patriarchate stated that the goal of Tbilisi Pride ‘is to propagate a perverted lifestyle that damages the consciousness of the young generation and the generations to come.’
They urged people to gather at Kashveti Church of St. George today at 5 p.m. where clerics will deliever a service and ‘show the world that we are defending our dignity and that any attempt to degrade our people is utterly unacceptable to us.’
Tbilisi Pride events began on July 1 amid public protests.
More than 20 individuals from right-wing groups have been detained by police during counter rallies.
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.’
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.
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.
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'.
Right wing activists who had gathered on Rustaveli Avenue this morning to protest the Tbilisi Pride march scheduled for 6 p.m. later today attacked journalists and cameramen on the spot, injuring dozens of media representatives. Among the injured media representatives there are eight from Rustavi 2, two journalists from TV Pirveli, and employees of On.ge, Tabula, Netgazeti, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and other media outlets.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has called on Tbilisi Pride to call off the march scheduled for 6 p.m. today, due to security risks caused by the counter rally of right-wing groups and the patriarchate. Individuals gathered at the counter rally on Rustaveli Avenue in central Tbilisi attacked and insulted journalists and obstructed their professional activities.
Georgian telecommunication provider Silknet has agreed to air and include in all its packages right-wing media outlet Alt-Info after months of a dispute caused by the outbreak of violence at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally on July 5. Alt-Info has been actively expressing and encouraging violence and aggresion against Tbilisi Pride march while founders of the media outlet were participating in the counter rally on July 5.