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:
Watching events across Tbilisi. Violence, threats towards the LGBTI+ & attacks on journalists damage ????????reputation as tolerant, hospitable country. We call on authorities to prevent further violence & protect individual rights & liberties of all ???????? citizens as per ???????? constitution
— UK in Georgia (@UKinGeorgia) July 5, 2021
Human Rights House Foundation posted on Twitter:
We condemn all forms of violence as well as the failure of the authorities to prevent this violence, despite repeated warnings by Georgian and international civil society organisations over many days. (3/4). https://t.co/KHvCmf0Zea
— Human Rights House Foundation (@HRHFoundation) July 5, 2021
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.
We expect #Georgia police to arrest and prosecute the men who broke into and vandalised @TbilisiPride offices. All their faces are visible.
— Cyrus Engerer (@engerer) July 5, 2021
Protect the #LGBTIQ community in Georgia ????????????️???? now.
❌ Stop the hate!@MIAofGeorgia @LGBTIintergroup @TheProgressives @ILGAEurope
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'.
Alarming images from #Georgia! Extremist hooligans threaten today’s #LGBT #pride in Tblisi. @vvd calls on the authorities to protect participants and journalists! European leaders need to put pressure on Georgia to immediately safeguard freedom and equal rights. @TbilisiPride????️???? pic.twitter.com/lqKbGPKn9F
— Ruben Brekelmans (@rubenbrekelmans) July 5, 2021
Council of Europe's Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity (SOGI) Unit has shared the post of Brekelmans.
????Alarming images from #Georgia
— Council of Europe SOGI (@LGBTcoe) July 5, 2021
Extremist groups threatened today’s #LGBTI #pride while journalists have been under multiple attacks
Public Defender of Georgia calls for the Ministry of Internal Affairs to address the ongoing violence in public space
➡️ https://t.co/dpb1LLbbeC https://t.co/4XkCFRC9Jf
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.
As a member of @HouseofCommons @CommonsDefence I’d ask the @GharibashviliGe to watch ????#Democracy requires #diversity & #HumanRights #Pride2021 #TbilisiPride ???????? #Dignity https://t.co/kIALTB3aat
— Martin Docherty-Hughes ????????????????????????????????️???? (@MartinJDocherty) July 5, 2021