21 embassies, int'l organisations condemn today's 'violent attacks' in Tbilisi in a joint statement

  • The statement reads that those who 'incite or threaten violence or commit violent acts ... should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law'. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

Agenda.ge, 5 Jul 2021 - 17:07, Tbilisi,Georgia

Twenty-one embassies and international organisations in Georgia have published a joint statement condemning violence in the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi, as well as the 'failure of the government leaders and religious officials' to condemn this violence.

The statement is published by the embassies of Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, the European Union Monitoring mission, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, UN system in Georgia, the United States and the EU Delegation to Georgia.

We condemn today’s violent attacks on the civic activists, community members and journalists, as well as the failure of the government leaders and religious officials to condemn this violence.  Participation in peaceful gatherings is a human right guaranteed by Georgia’s Constitution.  Violence is simply unacceptable and cannot be excused", reads the statement.

Right wing activists gathered on Rustaveli Avenue this morning to protest the Tbilisi Pride march scheduled for 6 p.m. today. Later organisers of Tbilisi Pride march  announced their cancellation of the event. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

The statement also reads that those who 'incite or threaten violence or commit violent acts ... should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law'.   

We call on all Georgia’s leaders and law enforcement to act swiftly to protect those exercising their Constitutional rights to freedom of expression and assembly, to protect journalists exercising freedom of the press, and to publicly condemn violence", reads the statement. 

In addition the British Embassy in Tbilisi posted on its Twitter account:

Human Rights House Foundation posted on Twitter:

Member of the European Parliament Cyrus Engerer posted on Twitter that the faces of men who broke into Tbilisi Pride office are visible and 'we expect' Georgian police to arrest them.

Dutch politician, a member of the House of Representatives Ruben Brekelmans has posted an 'alarming images from Georgia' showing the right wing groups activists storming the office of Tbilisi Pride. He said that the European leaders 'need to put pressure on Georgia to immediately safeguard freedom and equal rights'.

Council of Europe's Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity (SOGI) Unit has shared the post of  Brekelmans.

A member of UK House of Commons Martin Docherty-Hughes has shared an official trailer of the documentary film 'March for Dignity' and asked Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili to watch it.

Back

tags cloud

United States Russia Georgian Prime Minister Covid 19 Parliament Germany South Ossetia National Bank Of Georgia Music Defence Sport Tourism Batumi Prime Minister Government Exhibition Azerbaijan President Coronavirus Wine Us Geostat Art China Economy Georgia Irakli Garibashvili Police Display Film Georgia Eu Eu Membership Giorgi Margvelashvili Visa Liberalisation Abkhazia Irakli Garibashvili Eu Tbilisi Afghanistan Cinema Georgian Wine Giorgi Kvirikashvili Festival Ukraine Georgia Turkey Occupation Association Agreement Elections Nato Tskhinvali European Union