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.
Rapporteur @LacroixCh firmly condemns the acts of violence targeting Tbilisi Pride office, human rights defenders and journalists, and calls on Georgian authorities to prosecute the perpetrators https://t.co/ETKReIpByR @fouratgent @MIAofGeorgia @Ombudsman_Geo @fouratgent
— PACE_Equality (@PACE_Equality) July 6, 2021
In its statement Lacroix notes that nothing can justify the indiscriminate and so far unchecked violence, which undermines Georgia’s democratic institutions and the trust of its citizens in them.
I would like to express my solidarity with those who organise Tbilisi Pride, whose commitment and courage I salute, and with the Georgian media”, said Christophe Lacroix.
Lacroix also notes that the Georgian government must not shrink from its obligation to ensure the safety of its citizens and their ability to exercise freedom of expression and assembly.
Lacroix has called on the authorities to prosecute the perpetrators of the violence.