NGOs condemn homophobic posters against opposition, media in Tbilisi
NGOs and civil activists claim that the ruling Georgian Dream party stands behind the posters ahead of the election campaign. Photo courtesy
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Transparency International (TI) Georgia and International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) say violent posters in the streets of Tbilisi pose a threat to the health and life of the opposition and media representatives.
Executive Director of TI Georgia has tweeted:
By spreading posters pointing at media & civic activists, @GeorgianDream41 messaged that they're going to run #Gvote21 campaign that has no ???? lines. I would like to stress, If the lives of the people on these posters are endangered, Georgian Dream is directly responsible for it. pic.twitter.com/K15Fx2xwsd
— Eka Gigauri (@katgigauri) July 24, 2021
Posters with the photos of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, heads of TV Pirveli, Mtavari Arkhi TV and Formula TV, as well as civil activists from Tbilisi Pride and the Shame Movement read: ‘say no to Natsis!’* and ‘say no to evil!
The content of the poster, which was widely distributed in the light of the events of July 5-6, is perceived as a call for violence, and the homophobic context of the posters is also obvious”, the NGOs say.
They further note that considering the recent attacks on ‘critical media representatives’ from the ruling Georgian Dream party, the appeals on the posters ‘might again put the journalists and civil activists in front of the risk’.
Director of Tbilisi Pride has also tweeted:
???? Such a disgraceful campaign launched by ruling @GeorgianDream41 party!
— Giorgi Tabagari (@Tabagari) July 24, 2021
❗️Streets of #Georgia are filled with hateful posters, targeting media, politicians and civic activists, including myself..
???????? It seems that upcoming election campaign will be dirty and polarizing. pic.twitter.com/HkvDBjfxE3
While the civil society and opposition claims that the ruling party stood behind the posters, Giorgi Iakobashvili, editor-in-chief of For.ge website said it was the idea of his organisation ‘Davasrulot’ (Eng: Let's put an end).
Meanwhile, stating that the posters ‘damage the facade of the city and therefore they are illegal’, Tbilisi City Hall says the posters will be removed, while the individuals who have hung the posters at different locations in Tbilisi will be fined.
The Shame Movement also tweeted as well:
.@TbilisiCity plays a solo show: "It is reported that citizens arbitrarily put up posters & distorted the appearance of Tbilisi, which is an illegal act. Tbilservice Group will remove the posters. The Municipal Inspection of Tbilisi City Hall will act within the law,"- #Shame https://t.co/luq0nGgnKM
— Shame Movement (@Shamemovement) July 24, 2021
* ‘Natsis’ is a short, in a way derogatory form of the opposition United National Movement.
A British man who moved to Georgia five years ago not only actively got involved in Georgian political life this election season but has also demonstrated a great deal of political responsibility to local politicians.
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.
Georgian Dream ruling party has officially named Kakha Kaladze, Mayor of Tbilisi, as its candidate for a second term in the position, ahead of the municipal elections set to be held in October.
A number of opposition parties have put forward the United National Movement chair Nika Melia for the post of Tbilisi mayor, while Droa movement leader Elene Khoshtaria has been put forward for the City Council (Sakrebulo) chair for the upcoming municipal elections in October.
Businessman Mikheil Gabriadze has told Rustavi 2 TV that he and his friends stand behind ‘bloody’ billboards depicting opposition politicians. Claiming that he does not belong to any political party, Gabriadze said the former ruling party – United National Movement – which is now the largest opposition party, should not return to power.
Political movement Droa leader Elene Khoshtaria, who is the united opposition’s joint candidate for the City Council (Sakrebulo) chair in the upcoming local elections, has filed a complaint in the Central Election Commission (CEC) over billboards which portray opposition politicians as ‘bloody.’ The billboards feature opposition political leaders, including former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia who resigned earlier this year and the media managers of two opposition-minded TV channels Nika Gvaramia and Nodar Meladze from Mtavari Arkhi and TV Pirveli which reads: ‘No to Natsis (referring to the largest opposition United National Movement (UNM) party), No to evil, No to betrayal.’
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) of Georgia has called on advertising company ALMA to restore Covid-19 vaccination banners which were replaced by anti-opposition political billboards on September 17. The NCDC states that the advertising company did not notify the body regarding the change of the banners, noting that the replacement of their banners ‘was possible only with the prior agreement of the parties.’
Advertising company ALMA has stated that they provided the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) of Georgia with the space for the Covid-19 vaccination campaign free of charge in response to the latter’s appeal to restore the vaccination banners replaced by anti-opposition political billboards on September 17.
The Georgian State Audit Office has launched an investigation to find out who stands behind ‘bloody’ billboards depicting opposition politicians. The billboards depicting opposition politicians, including ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, ex-Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and UNM mayoral candidate Nika Melia, say: ‘No to Natsis [a short, often derogatory form of the opposition UNM), No to evil, No to betrayal’.