PM says violence against minorities won’t be allowed, but “we will also not allow propaganda, violence against majority”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday said his Government would not allow violence “against any of our citizens, including minorities”, but added “we will also not allow propaganda and violence against a majority”.

Garibashvili made the comment to local media following a controversy over a book in a McDonald’s Georgia restaurant meal set, where notes about the British singer Elton John mentioned his marriage to David Furnish and their children.

In its comments, the restaurant chain on Friday said the notes were a part of an international campaign for Happy Meal Readers.

In his response to a question by a reporter on the matter, Garibashvili claimed “LGBT propaganda” was being “actively carried out” in Western countries.

I want to ask you how acceptable LGBT propaganda among children is. LGBT propaganda is being actively carried out in Western countries [...] any kind of discrimination, violence is unacceptable - I have said this many times - [and] that is why we adopted the [corresponding] law”, Garibashvili told the press. 

“I have said many times that we will not allow violence against any of our citizens - including minorities - but we will also not allow propaganda and violence against our majority, children, and so on. This is our position”, the Government head continued.

He also claimed “extreme propaganda” was “already taking place in kindergartens and schools” abroad, and called it “unacceptable”.

I believe that, of course, every person has the right [...] to choose their way of life, [and] we do not interfere in anyone's work and personal life - this is absolutely unacceptable - but on the other hand, the extreme propaganda that already takes place in kindergartens and schools abroad is absolutely unacceptable”, he said.

“What we have seen in recent days - that in one of the most popular restaurant chains, McDonald's, this propaganda was taking place among children - of course, this is an immoral and unacceptable campaign”, the PM said.

[W]e heard explanations [around the development], but this is not enough. We do not accept the answer - that it turns out that this is part of a global campaign and that is why we should accept it. That is not going to happen, and I think it is welcome that the public’s reaction has been quite strong and adequate”, Garibashvili concluded.