MEPs: Georgian authorities, religious representatives failed to counter homophobic rhetoric
Right-wing protesters in front of the Georgian parliament building on July 5. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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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.
We strongly condemn yesterday’s violent attacks against civil activists, community members and journalists in Tbilisi, which regrettably forced the cancellation of the LGBTQI+ Pride March. Unfortunately, the Georgian authorities and religious representatives failed to speak loud and clear against homophobic rhetoric in the run-up to the Pride March”, the official joint statement reads.
???? Joint statement by MEPs @MarinaKaljurand, @svenmikser and @ViolavonCramon on the cancellation of the Tbilisi ???????? LGBTQI+ ????️???? Pride March.https://t.co/42NAZYgNKg ????
— AFET Committee Press (@EP_ForeignAff) July 6, 2021
Members of the European Parliament Marina Kaljurand, Sven Mikser and Viola von Cramon-Taubadel deplored ‘the Georgian government’s lack of readiness to guarantee the safety of this gathering devoted to tolerance.’
Like any other citizens, LGBTQI+ persons should be able to enjoy their constitutional rights such as participation in peaceful gatherings,” says the statement.
MEPs also reminded the Georgian government that a EU membership candidate country should have a ‘stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities.’
We expect the Georgian authorities to see that the perpetrators of the aforementioned attacks are apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” stated the document.
Organisers of the Tbilisi Pride called off the scheduled march on July 5 due to ‘the inaction of the executive power,’ as they noted.
Right-wing counter activists broke up a ‘silent’ rally organised on July 6 to protest the events of the previous day; in the process, they removed a EU flag in front of the parliament building for a second time on July 6 and burnt it.
Police detained 100 violent right-wing protesters yesterday, 68 have been released following a process in which they put their signatures on promises to refrain from similar behaviour in the future.
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.
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.
Academy Award- and BAFTA-winning American filmmaker Spike Lee responded to a question at a Cannes Film Festival press conference about violent attacks on reporters and a queer event in Tbilisi this week by urging journalists to cover the developments.
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.
Georgian opposition parties have condemned the failure of the Georgian government to adequately respond to violence at yesterday’s Tbilisi Pride counter rally. The Georgian government has issued several statements to the effect, with Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava responded to yesterday’s violent attacks on journalists by right-wing groups and called it shameful.
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.
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.