US DoS calls on Georgian gov’t to protect freedom of expression amid violent attacks
Right-wing counter protesters in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi on July 5. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The US Department of State has called on Georgian leaders and law enforcement ‘to protect the constitutional right to freedom of expression’ following violent attacks against journalists and civic activists at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally by right-wing protesters on July 5.
We condemn the violent attacks in Georgia that took place on July 5 on civic activists, on community members, on journalists…Georgians, as do people around the world, have a right to express their views, even when in a particular context they may be seen as unpopular or controversial,” US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said.
US State Department spokesperson Ned Price has tweeted:
We condemn the July 5 violent attacks in Georgia on civic activists, community members, and journalists. Georgia’s leaders and law enforcement are obligated to protect the Constitutional rights to freedom of expression and assembly and prosecute those participating in violence. https://t.co/gQj9goCsN7
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) July 5, 2021
Price also reminded the Georgian authorities ‘to protect all of those exercising their constitutional rights, to protect journalists exercising freedom of the press, and to publicly condemn the violence.’
The US Embassy in Georgia has signed a joint statement with the embassies of other countries regarding the violent events in Tbilisi, Price announced.
The United States Embassy in Georgia signed on to a joint statement along with several other missions on the ground. So it’s not just the United States speaking up about this; it’s several of our like minded partners as well”, Ned Price stated.
US Congressman Adam Kinzinger has also tweeted on ongoing violent events in Tbilisi:
I have been monitoring the violence in Tbilisi, and stand by our embassy’s statement. I am committed to discovering who was behind the violence on the LGBT community. America believes in freedom. https://t.co/eMyNDYx8J9
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) July 6, 2021
Right-wing counter protesters attacked journalists and the offices of Tbilisi Pride and the Shame movement on July 5, as a result of which about 50 journalists were injured.
Organisers of the Tbilisi Pride march had to cancel the event due to ‘the inaction of the executive power’.
A silent rally took place in front of the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue yesterday at 8 p.m., where right-wing counter demonstrators again violently interfered.
100 people have been arrested following the violent counter-demonstration against silent rally on Rustaveli Avenue, central Tbilisi on July 6, 68 were dismissed on a signature basis.
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.
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.
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.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava has raised the European Union flag in front of the Georgian parliament building in the capital city of Tbilisi this morning after violent right-wing groups burnt EU and LGBT flags last night. The groups shut down a ‘silent’ demonstration held outside the Parliament of Georgia yesterday which was meant to protest the violent events of July 5.
European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi has met with Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava earlier today and expressed gratitude to the parliament of Georgia for returning the EU flag ‘to its place’ after right-wing protesters burnt it earlier on July 6.
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze has briefed the media and public on recent developments concerning violence at the Tbilisi Pride counter rallies of the past couple of days.
"There is no discrimination against differing opinions or lifestyles in Georgia”, Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili said earlier today during a meeting with European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi. PM Irakli Garibashvili underscored that the foreign policy course of Georgia is Euro-Atlantic and is supported by the vast majority of the population, which ‘will not change.’
Council of Europe’s rapporteur on the rights of LGBT people in the South Caucasus Christophe Lacroix has condemned the acts of violence which occurred in Georgia during Tbilisi Pride week.
The Georgian authorities and religious representatives have failed to counter homophobic rhetoric, following violent attacks by right-wing groups against civil activists, community members and journalists in central Tbilisi on July 5, a joint statement of the Members of the European Parliament on the cancellation of the Tbilisi Pride march says.
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.
The US Department of State has called on Georgian leaders to publicly condemn recent violence against journalists and to protect their right to freedom of the press, following violent attacks at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally on July 5, where TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava was beaten up by right-wing protesters and later was found dead at home on July 11.
Dozens of pro-western Georgian winemakers have condemned homophobia, violence and anti-western attitudes earlier today, following the violent events of July 5-6, where right-wing groups physically and verbally assaulted journalists at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally, removed the EU flag twice from its position in front of parliament and burnt it. The statement of winemakers underscored that the biggest enemy for Georgia is intolerance of minorities, ‘which has had severe consequences for us in the past and will only threaten us with destruction and stagnation in the future,’ the announcement stated.