8 detained for violent attacks during Tbilisi Pride counter rally
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has condemned the violence and persecution of people on the basis of difference of opinion, sexuality or gender identity. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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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.
The ministry says 55 people, including 53 representatives of various media outlets, have been the targets of violence.
The Interior Ministry again condemns hate-motivated actions, among others the violence against representatives of media", the statement reads.
It further notes that the investigation is underway to identify all of the violators during today’s attacks in Tbilisi earlier today.
Tbilisi Pride, a civic movement which opposes homo/transphobia and fights to overcome it through exercising the constitutional right of assembly and manifestation, had scheduled Tbilisi Pride for July 1-5.
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. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
However, individuals protesting the Tbilisi Pride march which was scheduled for 6 p.m. today gathered in central Tbilisi for a counter rally, following the calls of the Patriarchate and right-wing groups.
- SEE IN PICTURES : Organisers of Right-wing groups, clergy attack reporters, storm Tbilisi Pride organisers' office ahead of planned queer rights march.
Tbilisi Pride cancelled the march saying the government 'not only did not ensure safety of the queer community and our supporters, but actively interfered with our right of assembly'.
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.
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.
The ruling Georgian Dream party says that ‘political interests’ and not the interests of the LGBT community stood behind today's Tbilisi Pride march.
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.
Senaki and Chkhorotskhu Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, who is Patriarch Ilia II’s ‘locum tenens’ has addressed the crowd at Kashveti Church after the violent attacks of the right-wing groups, that the Georgian society will again unite against LGBT activities anytime in the future.
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.
State officials, current and former diplomats and media rights organisations have been reacting to the developments in Tbilisi on Monday, where a right-wing demonstration against a planned Tbilisi Pride march for queer rights attacked reporters gathered to cover the eventually cancelled event before also storming offices of Pride organisers.
Three out of 11 right-wing activists detained on July 5 for attacking journalists will face criminal charges, while two detainees have been sentenced to three days of administrative detention.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has condemned violence against more than 50 journalists at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally on July 5 committed by right-wing protesters. He also underlined that all individuals will be identified and all guilty parties will be brought to justice.
Four defendants who attacked journalists at the Tbilisi Pride march counter rally on July 5 have been denied release on bail. Three defendants were sent to pre-trial detention for a violent attack on the journalists and cameramen of Tabula, New post agency, TV channels Rustavi 2 and Mtavari Arkhi and the fourth one for the physical assault of the cameramen of Palitranews.
Five more people have been arrested for group violence, persecution and assault of journalists and three people have been detained for damaging the office of Tbilisi Pride during a right-wing counter rally on July 5. Three of the 32 detainees from the rally of July 6 were fined for administrative violation, the maximum fine of which is 3,500 GEL (about $1,107/€934).