Georgian PM pledges “protection of values” on Day of Family Purity and Respect for Parents

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said his Government would make “every effort” to “protect values, the state and national interests” in comments at an event marking the Day of Family Purity and Respect for Parents at the Trinity Cathedral in capital Tbilisi.

Kobakhidze emphasised the “importance of love as a fundamental value of Christianity” and the significance of the event for “protecting the country’s identity, language, and faith”.

He emphasised the “responsibility of every citizen to protect the country's identity and unity” and urged the public to “unite around the value of love”.

I want to extend my congratulations to all of you on this significant day, which unites our country [...] There are forces that seek to divide our society, but as a Christian nation, love is our primary value, and we must strive to counter attempts to replace love with hate. It is essential for each of us to unite our country around love”, he said.

With love, we can also unite with our Abkhazian and Ossetian brothers and sisters. Long live our united Georgia, united by the love among its people”, the Government head told those in attendance.

Twenty-five cities, including capital Tbilisi, hosted processions to mark the date designated by the Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church in the 2010s. The religious body said the gatherings were aiming to “honour the significance of family and parental respect”.