Tbilisi Pride director claims right-wing groups could not have mobilised without state support
Right-wing groups, which gathered to counter Tbilisi Pride events earlier today, have attacked activists and media representatives, damaged offices of pride and its supporters. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Tweet 
Share
Director of Tbilisi Pride Giorgi Tabagari says right-wing groups could not have mobilised their forces to disrupt pride events today without support from state.
We have changed five different places today. They found us immediately. They even threw an explosive at one place… How is that possible? How could these people have mobilised so effectively without support form the State Security Service and the state?!” Tabagari wrote on Facebook.
Tabagari earlier shared a video on Twitter showing how their office looked like after todays attack:
❗️This is how our office looks like after todays attack. @GovernmentGeo and @MIAofGeorgia failed to protect people and didn't stop aggressive groups to destroy our property..#TbilisiPride21 #Georgia #Pride pic.twitter.com/mLADg7BMgP
— Giorgi Tabagari (@Tabagari) July 5, 2021
TV Pirveli media outlet has also reported that right-wing activists attempted to explode an office of one of the non-governmental organisations.
Right-wing activists gathered on Rustaveli Avenue this morning to protest the Tbilisi Pride march that was scheduled for 6 p.m.
Organisers cancelled the march citing 'shameful' comments by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and 'inaction' from the interior ministry to ensure safety for participants in the face of a right-wing counter-demonstration.
TV channels Mtavari Arkhi, Formula and Pirveli have left Rustaveli Avenue following violence against the media by right-wing groups protesting Tbilisi Pride, heads of the TV stations announced earlier today. They released an emergency statement and condemned the violence against the media.
Georgian president condemns violence during today’s events
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has released a statement following today's events in the capital city of Tbilisi in which she condemns the violence and persecution of people on the basis of difference of opinion, sexuality or gender identity.
NGOs and opposition politicians have stated that the inaction of the government and inflammatory statements by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili regarding the Tbilisi Pride march encourage violence by right-wing groups against civic activists and media representatives.
A Palitranews cameraman who was attacked by right wing activists earlier today has undergone an operation at New Hospitals and is being taken to the med ward at this time. Head of the New Hospitals emergency service Mikheil Beriashvili said that the patient had a head injury and a broken nose.
Eight people have been detained for violence against journalists and attacks on the offices of Tbilisi Pride and the Shame Movement, as well as an explosion at the headquarters of a Tbilisi-based human rights organisations during the Tbilisi Pride counter rally today, the Georgian Interior Ministry reports.
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has called everyone to refrain from violent attacks against 'adults, women, tourists' following today's demonstration of right-wing groups against LGBT people and their supporters.
Journalists and media representatives in various regions of Georgia held media solidarity rallies earlier today following the violent attacks against journalists yesterday at the Tbilisi Pride march counter rally by right-wing groups.