Patriarchate calls on clergy not to speak with media, approach police if needed
The patriarchate says the priests, who do not want to communicate with media can apply to the heads of particular TV channels. However, if their decision is ignored by journalists, police should interfere. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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“The Georgian church has been the target of severe attacks from certain forces”, the Georgian patriarchate has stated earlier today, adding that the situation became ‘even more tense and aggressive’ in Georgian media following the July 5-6 demonstrations in Tbilisi.
- SEE IN PICTURES : Organisers of Right-wing groups, clergy attack reporters, storm Tbilisi Pride organisers' office ahead of planned queer rights march
This is why the patriarchate says, the priests who do not want to speak with media can officially refuse to do so in a written letter to the heads of TV companies. However, if their decision is neglected by jouirnalists, police should interfere.
Right-wing groups gathered on Rustaveli Avenue in protest to Tbilisi Pride march that was scheduled to be held on July 5, but was later cancelled by its organisers. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
The patriarchate says that Mtavari Arkhi TV, TV Pirveli and Formula TV are on top of the media outlets, which are using not only hate speech, but threats and calls for retaliation.
Often the journalists of above TV channels (as we assume following the instructions from their directors) share partial assessments and groundless accusations instead of providing objective information, deliberately distort facts and try to make the respondents lose their temper by asking provocative questions”, the statement reads.
It further says that by doing so, journalists use the responses out of context and make up stories in such a way to make viewers think the priests are violent.
Tbilisi Pride is a civic movement which opposes homo/transphobia and fights to overcome it through exercising the constitutional right of assembly and manifestation. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Although the patriarchate says that there has been ‘certain misconduct’ from some of the priests during the counter rally against Tbilisi Pride events earlier this month, it notes that the cases are being deliberately generalised on the entire church to make it look violent.
Accusing the journalists of violating the norms of ethics against the church and its members, the patriarchate says members of political parties are also contributing to insulting the church instead of trying to bring things back to normal.
Patriarch Ilia II’s ‘locum tenens’ has addressed the crowd at Kashveti Church after the violent attacks of the right-wing groups on July 5, that the Georgian society will again unite against LGBT activities anytime in the future. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
A total of 55 people, including 53 representatives of various media have been injured during the confrontation in front of the parliament of Georgia and elsewhere.on July 5 following the violent attacks from the right-wing groups.
The patriarchate, which has been openly against Tbilisi Pride has urged the international community in Georgia to refrain from supporting and encouraging LGBT people, saying that 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’.
TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, 36, was found dead at home this morning. Lashkarava was one of the 53 media representatives who were attacked by right-wing groups during the Tbilisi Pride counter rally on June 5.
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.
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.
The Georgian patriarchate has called on thirty members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and diplomats in Georgia to refrain from supporting and encouraging Tbilisi Pride. Tbilisi Pride, a civic movement which opposes homo/transphobia and fights to overcome it through exercising the constitutional right of assembly and manifestation, has scheduled events for July 1-5.
Police have detained yet another individual for the violent attack on TV PIrveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava during the Tbilisi Pride counter rally. Lashkarava, 36, who was attacked in the office of the Shame Movement by over 30 right-wing activists on June 5, was found dead at his home several days later.
Anchor of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) Irakli Absandze has been dismissed from his job ‘for the violation of the channel’s code of conduct,’ particularly stipulations which regulate the use of social media by the GPB’s journalists.
The Georgian Patriarchate has accused three opposition-minded TV channels Mtavari Arkhi, TV Pirveli and Formula TV of ‘insulting its institution’ and using hate speech following a recent incident in which Monk Ioane verbally harassed a Formula TV journalist.
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has asked the country’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office to launch a criminal prosecution against archpriest Spiridon Tskipirishvili and a right-wing activist and an anchor of ultra-nationalist Internet platform Alt-Info Zurab Makharadze for their role on an anti-LGBT demonstration in central Tbilisi in early July.