Deputy Interior Minister says law enforcement will “prevent violence” after right-wing organisers call for disruption of Tbilisi Pride Week
Organisers of the programme of the Week said this year’s edition would not involve public events or a march featuring LGBTQ community members, noting there was “no space for us to hold a March of Dignity”. Photo: Tbilisipride.ge
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Law enforcement will “prevent acts of violence” during the planned Tbilisi Pride Week, Georgia’s Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhveidze said on Wednesday after right-wing organisers from Alt-Info media outlet called for a “disruption” of announced events for marking LGBTQ rights starting later this month.
Darakhvelidze said police would prevent violence “in accordance with rules established by law” during the event, adding the Ministry had received information on the plans of the Pride Week organisers and would ensure safety of “all individuals who have the right of assembly and expression under law.”
Organisers of the programme of the Week said this year’s edition would not involve public events or a march featuring LGBTQ community members, noting there was “no space for us to hold a March of Dignity”.
We are still the only group [in Georgia] that is denied the freedom of assembly and demonstration,” Tbilisi Pride organisers said on Tuesday.
A planned march in July last year was cancelled after right-wing protesters assaulted journalists who had gathered in downtown Tbilisi to cover the event, leaving dozens injured. Law enforcement faced fierce criticism from a part of the public and Tbilisi Pride organisers for failing to prevent the violence.
The announcement was followed by a response on Wednesday from Alt-Info - whose members have organised or been involved in violent action against queer events over the years in Georgia - which said the group would call on “several thousand people” to “take to the streets to disrupt the festival.”
Alt-Info founder Konstantine Morgoshia said “the vast majority” of the Georgian population would “not allow” Tbilisi Pride and similar events” to take place.
Tbilisi Pride Week is scheduled to run between June 28-July 2 and include the screening of a new Georgian film on queer community topics, a regional conference and this year’s Pride Festival.
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.
A Palitranews cameraman who was attacked by right wing activists earlier today has undergone an operation at New Hospitals and is being taken to the med ward at this time. Head of the New Hospitals emergency service Mikheil Beriashvili said that the patient had a head injury and a broken nose.
The Georgian Patriarchate has reminded demonstrators protesting the Tbilisi Pride march today that their actions ‘must only be peaceful’ after demonstrators demolished tents on Rustaveli Avenue, threw eggs and bottles at several buildings, attacked journalists and broke into the Tbilisi Pride office.
Twelve individuals have been detained earlier today for trying to disrupt film screening on the first day of Tbilisi Pride. The Georgian Interior Ministry has released a statement earlier today, promising to ensure the safety measures during the pride by maintaining the rule of law and ensuring the right to the freedom of expression and assembly of each person.
Georgian Interior Ministry has launched an investigation into threats issued by the right-wing organisation Alt-Info ahead of the planned Tbilisi Pride Week, organised by the LGBTQ+ community and set to start in the capital on Tuesday, Interpressnews reported on Monday.
Police arrested 26 participants of a right-wing rally against the ongoing Tbilisi Pride Week in Tbilisi on Saturday for “disorderly conduct”.