PM claims domestic law on protection of family values only concerns prohibition of LGBT propaganda

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday said the domestic law on the protection of family values, adopted earlier this year, only concerned the prohibition of LGBT propaganda, claiming it aimed “to protect family values and the interests of minors” and “to combat LGBT propaganda”. 

In his interview with the PosTV channel, the PM further noted the legislation did not infringe on human rights, but instead sought to “limit crude propaganda”. 

"The standard of human rights protection has been qualitatively improved since 2012 [in the country]. It is not the Government's business to interfere in anyone's private life, we cannot intrude on anyone's private life, it is not also our business to judge anyone's lifestyle. This is not the scope of regulation of this law as well. The only thing that this law opposes is propaganda, which resists traditional values, Christian dogmas”, he added.

While questioned about criticism from international partners regarding the issue, he said “this legislation has already been adopted in many European Union member states”.

The Head of the Government further claimed there was a “tendency” in Europe when “a mother may no longer be called a mother and a father may no longer be called a father” and “this should be opposed by the legislation and “reflected in the official documents, should be provided by the law”.

The law on family values ​​and protection of minors adopted in October calls for the prohibition of the “production of LGBT propaganda” in educational institutions - in particular, dissemination of information “aimed at the promotion of a person's belonging to a different gender than their own, same-sex relationships or incest”.